Britney Spears is facing a misdemeanor charge after prosecutors in Ventura County filed a driving under the influence count against the pop star Thursday, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
The 44-year-old was pulled over on March 4 on U.S. 101 near her home after California Highway Patrol officers observed her driving her black BMW fast and erratically, according to the California Highway Patrol. She was arrested on suspicion of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs and booked into a Ventura County jail before being released on bail the next day.
Spears has since voluntarily entered substance abuse treatment, according to her representative, who previously called her actions "completely inexcusable."
Her arraignment is set for Monday, though her appearance is not required, according to prosecutors.
The single misdemeanor count alleges she drove under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug. The criminal complaint does not identify the specific substances or amount. Law enforcement completed its investigation and forwarded the case to prosecutors on March 23.
Prosecutors plan to offer a plea arrangement at Monday's arraignment, which would allow Spears to plead guilty in exchange for 12 months of probation, a mandatory DUI class, credit for any time served, and state-mandated fines and fees.
The district attorney's office said the offer follows standard protocol for defendants with no prior DUI history, no collision or injuries, and a low blood-alcohol level. Prosecutors also noted that defendants who independently seek treatment are typically considered strong candidates for such.
The charges come as Spears, one of pop music's most recognizable figures, has largely stepped away from the spotlight. She emerged in the late 1990s as a defining star of her era, scoring diamond-certified albums with "...Baby One More Time" (1999) and "Oops!... I Did It Again" (2000) and hits including "Toxic," "Gimme More" and "I'm a Slave 4 U.” Most of her albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Her personal struggles drew heavy public and media scrutiny throughout the early 2000s, and in 2008, a court placed her under a conservatorship controlled primarily by her father, Jamie Spears, that governed her personal and financial life for more than a decade. The arrangement was dissolved in 2021.
In the years since, Spears has worked to reestablish her life independently. Her divorce from actor and model Sam Asghari was finalized in April 2024 after nearly two years of marriage. She also published "The Woman in Me" in 2023, a bestselling memoir recounting her rise to fame, her conservatorship, her relationships and her experience as a mother.
Musically, Spears has been largely inactive. Her last studio album "Glory" was released in 2016. She has not toured in nearly eight years, and only a handful of collaborative singles have followed since.