Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to driving while impaired in Sag Harbor court
A somber Justin Timberlake appeared in a Sag Harbor court Friday morning to plead guilty to a less serious charge after being pulled over for drunk driving on Long Island in June.
The 43-year-old singer was sentenced to serve 25 hours of community service within one year, pay a maximum fine of $500 and surrender his driving rights in New York State for 90 days after admitting to driving while impaired by alcohol .
He originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated, which carries a sentence of up to one year in jail.
The former NSYNC star was busted after leaving The American Hotel in his 2025 BMW, swerving out of his lane and blowing through a stop sign, according to police. Cops said he failed multiple field sobriety tests and wouldn't consent to a breathalyzer test.
Timberlake told the court Friday that he understood the severity of his actions and promised the judge he "won't be back here again."
His plea agreement also required him to make a public safety announcement.
Timberlake addressed the media after the hearing, saying he had a lot of time to reflect on his actions and hopes to use his platform to help others make better decisions.
"I try to hold myself to a very high standard, and this was not that," he told reporters outside the courthouse.
"Even if youâ€TMve had one drink, donâ€TMt get behind the wheel of a car," he said. "Thereâ€TMs so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. Thereâ€TMs many travel apps. Take a taxi," he said. "This is a mistake that I made, but Iâ€TMm hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have."
He also spoke about growing up in a small town and said he understood the strain his arrest put on Sag Harbor. He thanked local residents, law enforcement and everyone else involved in the case for helping him work through the ordeal.
"In closing, I'd like to say we can all be more safe out there, and I'm going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part," he said.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney echoed Timberlake's sentiments, saying in a statement Friday there's no excuse to drive impaired when public transportation and ride share services are readily available.
However, he praised Timberlake for taking responsibility for his actions and "for using his platform to increase public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving."
Tierney also maintained the Grammy Award winner was treated like any other citizen would be in a similar case.
"Justice should be applied equally to all individuals, regardless of their wealth or celebrity status," the DA said.
Timberlake was arrested in the early hours of June 18 in no state to operate a motorized vehicle, according to police.
"His eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention," officers wrote in a court filing at the time. "He had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests."
Timberlake claimed he only had one martini before getting behind the wheel. A bartender at The American Hotel also said he only served Timberlake one drink.
"If he was drinking more, it wasnâ€TMt here," another employee told People magazine.
At a hearing in July, Timberlake's attorney, Edward Burke, argued his client should not have been arrested for DUI.
"The facts remain, he was not intoxicated," Burke said at the time, adding that "police made a number of very significant errors."
Burke on Friday said the lesser charge of driving while impaired "is consistent with" the facts in the case.
Ahead of his plea on Friday, Timberlake had not appeared in court in person as he continued to perform on his Forget Tomorrow World Tour . He's set to take the stage at the Prudential Center in Newark on Sept. 28 before heading to Brooklyn for an Oct. 7 show at Barclays Center .
