Four hours of dash cam footage showing Britney Spears’ arrest has been released by police. The 44-year-old singer was pulled over in Los Angeles in March after driving erratically at high speeds on a motorway. After being stopped, she showed signs of impairment and underwent field sobriety tests before being briefly taken to jail.
Footage Details
The Highway Patrol car’s dash cam footage, recorded on March 4, shows Spears undergoing a sobriety test on the side of the road. She follows an officer’s finger up and down and side to side as a light shines on her face. Although the audio is muffled, another officer approaches and appears to say the test is finished. Soon after, Spears is handcuffed and turned around to face the vehicle. Another clip shows two officers walking her, handcuffed, to a car off camera. The footage was filmed outside a hospital, with an ambulance visible in the background.
Spears can be heard asking, “Did you guys take my phone?” before being told it is in her purse. When she questions whether police moved her phone, she is told, “No, no, it’s still in there.” The footage also includes her car swerving, the traffic stop, an officer saying he can smell alcohol, and Spears initially refusing to exit her vehicle before eventually complying. Police say they will take her to a hospital for a blood test, but Spears appears confused and asks, “What’s a hospital?” She is then heard sobbing briefly in the back seat before returning to the car after the hospital visit.
Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Spears was arrested on March 4 after a 911 call reported an erratic driver on the 101 Freeway in Newbury Park, Ventura County, California. Authorities said she had alcohol and drugs in her system, but did not disclose the substances or her blood alcohol content. Newly released police records reveal that officers detected the distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage from inside her car. Spears told officers she had one mimosa a few hours earlier and allegedly said, “I could probably drink four bottles of wine and take care of you. I’m an angel.” The report notes her eyes were red and watery, and her pupils dilated. After 10 minutes of speaking, she followed officers’ requests to get out of her car, and officers noted her speech was rapid and slurred, her gait unsteady, and she was fidgeting with her fingers.
Spears told police she had taken multiple prescription drugs that day: 200mg of anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer Lamictal, 40mg of antidepressant Prozac, and 2.5mg of ADHD medication Adderall. An empty wine glass was found in the cup holder between the front seats.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Earlier this month, Spears pleaded guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and drugs. She was sentenced to 12 months’ probation, one day in jail with credit for time served, and a $571 fine. She must also see a psychologist once a week and a psychiatrist twice a month. Her attorney, Michael Goldstein, said in a statement: “Through her plea today, Britney has accepted responsibility for her conduct. She has taken significant steps to implement positive change which is clearly reflected in the Ventura County District Attorney’s decision to reduce the charge in this case and dismiss the DUI. Britney appreciates this discretion and is also grateful for the outpouring of support she has received.”
Background
Spears shares children Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Following her public mental health struggles in 2008, she was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship, which was terminated in 2021. Her father Jamie controlled her estate during that time, with her net worth estimated at $60 million. They are now estranged. After her arrest, a representative said: “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.” It was soon revealed she entered rehab.
