Britney Spears has been arrested on suspicion of DUI in California as those in her inner circle are hoping the incident can be the first step in ‘long overdue change.’
The Daily Mail has learned that the 44-year-old pop star was taken into custody by California Highway Patrol at 9.30pm on Wednesday night in Ventura County.
The singer, who was recently seen driving and behaving erratically, has since been released, according to Ventura County Sheriff records as of Thursday morning.
Spears is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 4.
Representatives for Spears released a statement in response to the arrest to Daily Mail which read: ‘This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.
‘Her boys are going to be spending time with her. Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well being.’
Britney Spears was arrested for DUI in Ventura County, California, last night
Just last month, the singer was spotted behind the wheel of her Mercedes SUV, appearing to break the law in LA with her cell phone pressed to her face
Spears shares two sons – 20-year-old Sean Preston Federline and 19-year-old Jayden James Federline – with ex-husband Kevin Federline as they currently live in Hawaii with their father.
When a person gets a DUI in California, their driver’s license is automatically suspended.
There is also potential jail time, a hefty fine of over $1,000 and mandatory DUI education programs.
A first offense typically involves three to five years of probation, a six-month license suspension and about six months of DUI school.
Just last month, Spears was spotted behind the wheel of her Mercedes SUV, appearing to break the law as she held her cell phone to her face.
On February 12, she was photographed taking a spin around Los Angeles while appearing to be talking on the phone, which is illegal in California under the ‘No Touch’ law (Vehicle Code 23123.5).
She was not charged in relation to the incident.
It was, however, not an isolated incident for Spears, who, in recent months, was filmed swerving into the wrong lane on a highway after a night out. At the time, sources feared she was ‘spiraling’ amid the release of her ex-husband Federline‘s memoir. The two were married from 2004 to 2007.
The singer has since been released, according to Ventura County Sheriff records as of Thursday morning (seen at the MTV Video Music Awards in August 2016)
Spears (pictured in an Instagram video from last month) is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, May 4
A first-time DUI offense typically involves three to five years of probation, a six-month license suspension and about six months of school (she is pictrured in April 2018)
Her history with the police also included being cited for a hit-and-run (misdemeanor) after hitting a parked car in 2007. This was dismissed after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner, it was reported at the time.
She was also cited for driving without a valid California license in 2008, which was later dismissed by a judge.
In 2023, law enforcement visited Spears’s home regarding a video involving knives, but no charges were filed.
In 2007, the star famously suffered a harrowing breakdown after exhibiting worrying behavior in the months leading up to her infamous psychiatric hold.
The then 25-year-old popstar had fans concerned after she shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi’s car with a green umbrella – before checking into a rehab facility.
The Toxic singer, 43, suffered another setback after a disastrous performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, where her performance of Gimme More was heavily criticized by both fans and critics alike.
Then, in January 2008, she was put under lockdown at a facility after refusing to hand her young son over to ex-husband Federline.
More recently, she has been open about issues with her family as in early February she claimed she is ‘scared’ of her family and ‘lucky to be alive’ in a bombshell social media post.
More recently, she has been open about issues with her family as in early February she claimed she is ‘scared’ of her family and ‘lucky to be alive’ in a bombshell social media post
The toxic hitmaker claimed that her relatives will ‘never take responsibility’ as she slammed them for ‘isolating’ her
The star lashed out at her family four years after she was liberated from her 13-year conservatorship; Britney pictured with her father Jamie, brother Bryan, sister Jamie-Lynn and mom Lynne
Jamie insisted his control of Britney’s finances, career and personal liberties was to protect her wellbeing, yet his daughter claimed it was ‘abusive’ and likened her situation to being a ‘sex trafficking victim’; The two seen in 2006
The pop superstar lashed out at her family once again, four years after she was liberated from her 13-year conservatorship, which was primarily controlled by her father Jamie Spears, 73.
The toxic hitmaker claimed that her relatives will ‘never take responsibility’ as she slammed them for ‘isolating’ her.
‘I’m incredibly lucky to even be alive with how my family treated me once in my life and now I’m scared of them,’ the singer wrote in a lengthy caption.
‘They will never take responsibility for what they did,’ she wrote, adding, ‘We can forgive as people but u don’t ever forget.’
She has also fallen out with other family members who she blamed for being complicit; Seen with her mom Lynn in 2002
Over Christmas, Britney shared a scathing message directed at her family, after her younger sister Jamie Lynn, 34, posted a holiday snap with Britney’s older son Sean Preston, 20; Britney and Jamie seen in 2017
At the end of her post, Spears detailed her latest health blow, stating she hasn’t been able to dance because she broke her toe ‘twice’, four months after she sustained a ‘horrible’ leg injury.
Britney has had a contentious relationship with her family members for years following her 13-year conservatorship that ended in November 2021.
Her father Jamie was initially a co-conservator after the arrangement started in 2008, with the attorney Andrew Wallet serving alongside him until 2019. The conservatorship was put in place following concerns for her mental health
Over Christmas, Britney shared a scathing message seemingly directed at her family, after her younger sister Jamie Lynn, 34, posted a holiday snap with Britney’s older son Sean Preston, 20.
