On Friday, Justin Timberlake resolved his drunk-driving case in the Hamptons by pleading guilty to impaired driving, a reduced traffic offense.
The incident occurred in the upscale coastal area east of New York City, and Timberlake appeared in Sag Harbor village court late in the morning to formally enter his plea.
Police officers accompanied Timberlake from his lawyer’s office to the courthouse, where a crowd of journalists and onlookers had gathered.
Timberlake, the renowned singer-songwriter and actor, remained standing throughout the proceedings and expressed regret for his actions.
“I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself,” he admitted in court. He also expressed gratitude for the chance to move forward and use his platform to encourage others to make better choices.
“I should have had better judgment,” he acknowledged, addressing the judge. “I understand the seriousness of this.”
Timberlake had initially pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI) at a previous hearing, during which his driving license was suspended.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, led by Ray Tierney, was responsible for prosecuting the case.
The arrest took place shortly after midnight on June 18 in Sag Harbor, New York. Police reported that Timberlake ran a stop sign, swerved out of his lane, and exited his BMW smelling of alcohol.
Court filings noted that the 43-year-old’s eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” his speech was “slowed,” and he was unsteady on his feet. Timberlake also performed poorly on sobriety tests.
When questioned by officers, Timberlake admitted to having one martini and said he was following friends home.
As part of the plea deal, Timberlake was required to make a public safety announcement.
Standing outside the courthouse in the bright sunlight, dressed in a dark sweater, he addressed the public over the noise of traffic and camera shutters.
“I understand that I have a platform … to everyone watching and listening, even if you have only one drink, do not get behind the wheel of a car. There are so many alternatives,” he urged.
Timberlake further emphasized his personal lesson from the incident. “This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening now can learn from this mistake—I certainly have,” he said.
He also took the opportunity to thank the local community and police department, adding, “We can all be more safe out there, and I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part as well.”
The arrest occurred in Sag Harbor, a historic whaling village mentioned in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, located within the Hamptons, a region known for its wealthy residents and often referred to as a playground for the super-rich.
According to legal experts, Timberlake’s license suspension in New York could extend to other states.
Kenneth Gober, a managing partner at the law firm Lee, Gober & Reyna in Austin, Texas, explained that refusing a breath test, as Timberlake did during his arrest, results in an automatic suspension of the driving license under New York law, a penalty that is typically enforced across state lines.
