Pop Star Britney Spears Booked, Released After DUI Arrest in Southern California
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Singer Britney Spears arrives for the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. on July 22, 2019. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)
By Elma Aksalic
3/5/2026Updated: 3/5/2026

Award-winning pop star Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Southern California on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI).

California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested Spears, 44, at around 9:30 p.m. local time, according to records from the Ventura Sheriff’s Office reviewed by The Epoch Times.

The singer was booked at around 3 a.m on Thursday and  released shortly after 6 a.m. Jail records list her arrest as a “cite and release,” with no probation, however, she is scheduled to appear in court on May 4.

“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” a representative for Spears told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.

“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.”

The statement went on to say: “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 Epoch Times has reached out to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and CHP for comment on the matter, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

Best known for her chart-topping hits “Oops! … I Did It Again!“ and ”Baby One More Time,” Spears has had several brushes with the law over the years.

In 2007, she was charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run after crashing her car into another vehicle in a Los Angeles parking lot before fleeing the scene. The case was later dismissed after she agreed to pay the driver an undisclosed amount in damages.

Following the incident, Spears lost custody of her two sons Sean Preston, and Jayden James, whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

In 2008, Spears was hospitalized for a psychiatric evaluation after suffering a series of mental health crises. She was subsequently placed under a court-ordered conservatorship overseen primarily by her father, Jamie Spears. Her finances, career, and personal life decisions remained under his control for 13 years, before a Los Angeles County judge granted approval to terminate the legal arrangement in 2021.

Over the years, Spears has maintained an online social media presence, frequently posting videos of herself dancing alone in her home and speaking out against alleged mistreatment from family members.

The posts have raised alarms from fans regarding her current mental health status, but as of today, her Instagram has been deactivated.

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Elma Aksalic is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times and an experienced TV news anchor and journalist covering original content for Newsmax magazine.

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