Britney Spears Arrested on Suspicion of DUI in Ventura County

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - Pop singer Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Ventura County, California, according to records posted by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and confirmed by Billboard.

The sheriff's office reported that Spears was taken into custody at 9:28 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday, March 4, and booked at 3:02 a.m. Thursday. She was released from custody at 6:07 a.m. Thursday. Her court date is scheduled for May 4.

"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," a representative for Spears said in a statement to Billboard. "Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time. Her boys are going to be spending time with her, and her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue needed plan to set her up for success for well-being."

Spears, 42, has previously faced legal issues. In 2007, she turned herself in to Los Angeles police on charges of hit-and-run and driving without a valid license. The hit-and-run case was dismissed in 2008. A few months after the 2007 incident, Spears was placed under a legal conservatorship, which lasted 13 years.

The latest arrest comes as Spears has apparently deleted her Instagram account, where she had frequently posted updates about her life. Spears shares two sons, Sean and Jayden, with ex-husband Kevin Federline, who moved with the boys to Hawaii in 2023. In December 2024, Spears posted that she had reunited with Jayden after two years apart.

Federline published a memoir, "You Thought You Knew," in October. In the book, he expressed concern for Spears' well-being, writing, "The truth is, this situation with Britney feels like it's racing toward something irreversible. It's become impossible to pretend everything's OK. From where I sit, the clock is ticking, and we're getting close to the 11th hour. Something bad is going to happen if things don't change, and my biggest fear is that our sons will be left holding the pieces."

Spears responded to Federline's memoir on Instagram, calling his statements "extremely hurtful and exhausting." She wrote, "I have always pleaded and screamed to have a life with my boys. Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralized by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life."

Spears has also publicly criticized her family, particularly her father, Jamie Spears, who oversaw her conservatorship for many years. Jamie Spears has denied allegations of exploitation. In recent social media posts, Spears referenced past trauma and expressed fear about her family's treatment of her.