Justin Timberlake Admits Guilt to Lesser Charge of Driving While Impaired; Issues Public Safety Warning

Justin Timberlake has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of driving while impaired, concluding a legal case stemming from an incident earlier this year. On Friday, Timberlake reached a plea deal with Suffolk County, New York prosecutors, resulting in a sentence handed down by Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace.

Under the terms of the agreement, Timberlake was sentenced to 25 hours of community service, which he can complete with a non-profit organization of his choice within a year. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a $500 fine and has had his driver’s license suspended for 90 days in New York State, starting from Friday.

The sentencing was a compromise between Timberlake’s defense team and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, although Judge Irace expressed dissatisfaction with the leniency of the initial plea deal. He described it as “surprisingly favorable” and lacking in “retribution.”

When asked by the judge if he accepted the terms, Timberlake responded affirmatively, saying, “I would be honored to.” The pop star arrived at the courthouse shortly after 11 a.m., dressed in a black shirt, brown pants, and a pearl-like necklace, accompanied by his lawyer and a security detail.

Following the court proceedings, Timberlake addressed the media outside the courthouse. He acknowledged his mistake, stating, “I try to hold myself to a very high standard of myself. And this was not that. This was not that.” He reflected on his poor decision and urged others to learn from his experience. “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There are so many alternatives – call a friend, take an Uber, there are many travel apps, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”

Earlier this year, Timberlake had pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor. Had he been convicted, he could have faced up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

In New York, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over 0.05% is considered evidence of impairment, while a BAC of 0.08% or higher indicates intoxication, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor in June after reportedly leaving The American Hotel bar shortly after midnight. Police observed him driving down Main Street in his 2025 BMW, where he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign and stayed out of his lane. Timberlake also reportedly failed a field sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer test multiple times, responding, “No, I’m not doing a chemical test.”

Timberlake’s attorney, Ed Burke, defended his client’s actions, stating that Timberlake had consumed just one drink over a two-hour period. Burke emphasized that Timberlake was neither rude nor belligerent during the encounter with law enforcement. “Contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks or warned in advance not to drive. He wasn’t rude, he wasn’t obnoxious, he wasn’t belligerent,” Burke said before Timberlake delivered his public safety announcement.

Despite the legal challenges, Timberlake has continued his summer tour, the Forget Tomorrow Tour, and is set to perform in New Jersey on September 28.