Pop star Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Ventura County on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, authorities said. She was released several hours later.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said officers responded shortly before 9 p.m. to a report of a black BMW 430i speeding and driving erratically on U.S. 101 in Newbury Park, near the Los Angeles County line.
The 44-year-old singer was the only person in the car. Spears exited the freeway and pulled over, according to the CHP.
Officers said Spears appeared impaired and performed a series of field sobriety tests before arresting her on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
She was taken to the Ventura County jail, CHP said. Chemical test results are pending, and the case remains under investigation.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office inmate records show Spears was arrested at about 9:28 p.m. on Wednesday and booked at 3:02 a.m. on Thursday.
She was released at 6:07 a.m. under a cite-and-release procedure, meaning she was issued a citation to appear in court rather than being held in custody.
The booking record shows Spears has a court date scheduled for May 4 at 8:15 a.m. at Ventura County Superior Court.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will determine whether to file charges.
A representative for Spears issued a statement after the arrest.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” the representative said 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. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”
The record lists Spears’ place of birth as Louisiana and her occupation as “celebrity.” No warrants or parole holds were associated with the booking.
The arrest happened a few miles from Thousand Oaks, where Spears owns a home. The CHP listed her residence as nearby Westlake Village.
Spears rose to international fame in the late 1990s after appearing on Disney Channel’s “The Mickey Mouse Club” and launching a music career that helped define the era’s pop sound.
Her debut single “… Baby One More Time,” along with later hits including “Oops! … I Did It Again” and “Toxic,” became global successes.
Her albums have earned multiple certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America, including diamond status for “… Baby One More Time” (1999) and “Oops! … I Did It Again” (2000).
Her most recent studio album, “Glory,” was released in 2016.
Spears’ personal life drew intense media attention in the early 2000s. In 2008, she was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship that controlled her personal and financial decisions. The arrangement ended in 2021 after years of legal battles and the public #FreeBritney movement.
In 2023, Spears released a bestselling memoir, “The Woman in Me”, describing her career and the legal fight over the conservatorship.