Britney Spears Arrested for DUI: Princess of Pop Booked in Ventura County, Court Date Set for May 4
Britney Spears has been arrested for the first time in her life. The 44-year-old pop icon was taken into custody Wednesday night, March 4, 2026 ET, on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs in Ventura County, California. TMZ broke the story first, reporting that Spears was handcuffed by the California Highway Patrol around 9:30 p.m. and booked by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department around 3 a.m., before being released from jail around 6 a.m. Thursday. She has a court date scheduled for May 4.
Why Was Britney Spears Arrested: What the CHP Says Happened
A CHP press release confirmed that a black BMW 430i was reported driving erratically at a high rate of speed at approximately 8:48 p.m. local time on Wednesday, traveling southbound on US-101. The car was pulled over near the Westlake Boulevard exit in Ventura County. Spears was the only occupant in the vehicle and showed signs of impairment, according to the release.
Another driver on the road saw someone driving erratically in the Newbury Park area and called 911. CHP officers located Spears' BMW 430i near Westlake Boulevard and initiated a traffic stop. The driver exited the 101 Freeway in Westlake Village and pulled to the shoulder of the road.
Dispatch audio obtained by Fox News Digital indicated that CHP followed Spears for a while on the freeway and other roads in the greater Los Angeles area before pulling her over. Officers can be heard saying "Driver is out of the vehicle" and "Just talking with the driver."
Blood Draw at Hospital: Alcohol and Drugs Both Suspected
After the traffic stop, the situation escalated quickly into a medical visit. Spears was taken to a hospital immediately after she was pulled over. CHP officers transported her there to draw her blood to determine her blood alcohol content. She did not sustain any injuries and the hospital visit was purely to determine intoxication levels.
Spears showed signs of impairment and was given field sobriety tests before being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol. Chemical tests are pending and the incident remains under investigation. She was booked at 3:02 a.m. and released around 6:07 a.m. Her vehicle was towed from the scene.
Britney Spears' Rep: "Completely Inexcusable"
The statement from Spears' representative did not mince words about the severity of the incident. "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," the statement continued. Spears has two adult sons with her ex-husband Kevin Federline. Her Instagram account, where she had been posting frequent solo dancing videos from her Thousand Oaks home in recent weeks, was deactivated shortly after news of the arrest broke.
Britney Spears Court Date: May 4, 2026
According to arrest records, Spears is scheduled to appear in court on May 4, 2026. The arrest marks the first time in her life that Spears has been booked into custody — a striking milestone for one of the most scrutinized celebrities in American entertainment history.
It is not the first time Spears has had legal issues. She was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run in 2007, which was later dismissed after she paid for the damages. The following year she was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation — an event that triggered her controversial 13-year conservatorship.
Sam Asghari and Britney's Life Since the Conservatorship
The DUI arrest comes nearly five years after one of the most celebrated legal victories in Hollywood. The arrest comes about five years after a judge freed Spears from a controversial conservatorship that gave her father control over her finances, career and personal life for 13 years. Spears detailed the conservatorship in her bestselling 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me.
Since her conservatorship ended and her divorce from Sam Asghari was finalized in 2023, Spears has largely kept a low profile. She has not released an album since 2016's Glory and last performed live in the US in 2018, when she closed out her Piece of Me tour. She had been scheduled to return to Las Vegas in 2019 for a second residency, Domination, but postponed indefinitely and stepped away from performing.
The Britney Spears DUI arrest came just days after she was granted a permanent restraining order against a 51-year-old Louisiana man who had been stalking and harassing her online since 2013 and was arrested for trespassing after showing up at her Southern California home in 2025. With a court date on the calendar and a family intervention being organized by loved ones, May 4 now looms as a pivotal moment for the Princess of Pop.
