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LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Ventura County, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, the California Highway Patrol confirmed .
The Arrest
The CHP’s Ventura Communications Center received a report around 8:48 p.m. of a black BMW 430i traveling “erratically at a high rate of speed” on southbound US-101 near the Borchard Road exit in Newbury Park . Officers located the vehicle a short time later and initiated a traffic stop.
Spears, 44, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and “showed signs of impairment” due to the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs, according to CHP . She underwent a series of field sobriety tests before being arrested .
Booking and Release
Spears was briefly taken to a medical facility by law enforcement for the purpose of administering blood tests, in accordance with California’s DUI protocol . Chemical test results are pending and the investigation remains ongoing .
Representative’s Statement
A representative for Spears issued a statement to multiple outlets, including the BBC and Reuters :
“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.”
The representative added that Spears’ sons, Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline, “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” .
Family Response
A family source told Us Weekly: “I hope this is a wake-up call for her” . The source indicated that loved ones are planning to intervene and develop a comprehensive plan to support the singer .
Kevin Federline, Spears’ ex-husband, recently expressed concern in his memoir, You Thought You Knew, writing: “The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it’s racing toward something irreversible. It’s become impossible to pretend everything’s OK. From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we’re getting close to the eleventh hour” .
Social Media Activity
Around the same time as the arrest, Spears appeared to delete her Instagram account . The platform had been a primary outlet for the singer since her conservatorship ended.
Legal History and Context
This is not Spears’ first encounter with driving-related legal issues:
Recent Career
The arrest comes amid a period of transition for Spears. In 2021, a judge ended her 13-year conservatorship, which had controlled her personal life and $60 million estate since 2008 . She released a bestselling memoir, The Woman in Me, in 2023 .
Musically, Spears collaborated with Sir Elton John in 2022 and with will.i.am in 2023 . She stated in January 2024 that she would “never return to the music industry,” though a since-deleted social media post earlier this year suggested she was hoping to play live in the UK and Australia .
Looking Ahead
Spears is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on May 4, 2026 . The case remains under investigation with chemical test results pending.
