This week on Legally Us, Rachael Bennett, a certified family law specialist and senior attorney at Sullivan Law & Associates, breaks down how Britney Spears exploring treatment options could benefit her ahead of her upcoming DUI court date.
Britney, 44, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs on March 4 after she was seen “driving erratically at a high rate of speed,” according to the California Highway Patrol.
An insider told Us Weekly, “Her family and team are looking into treatment options for both addiction and mental health, but it won’t be easy to talk her into it unless she feels ready herself. You can’t force it. They just need to have hope that she will take this arrest and its consequences.”
Britney is scheduled to appear in court on May 4, according to online records, with Bennett telling Us, “I think a [treatment option] would absolutely reduce the possible fines and jail time, and it’s actually very common in DUI cases. Judges often look at what the person has done after the arrest and if Britney shows some signs of entering either voluntary treatment, completing alcohol or drug counseling or taking other steps to show some kind of accountability her attorney can present that as mitigation.”
She adds, “Courts generally want to see that the underlying issue is being addressed. While those efforts won’t completely erase the charge, they can absolutely help reduce penalties and make probation or a diversion program more likely than jail time.”
Britney Spears. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Intimate Britney Spears
Police released Britney from jail the morning after her arrest, but the incident remains under investigation as officials await the results of a blood test the singer took at a nearby hospital while in custody.
“For a first time DUI in California the penalties can include up to six months in county jail, fines that can exceed a couple $1,000 and certainly a mandatory DUI education class. There is also the possibility of a driver’s license suspension and the court can also order probation for three to five years,” Bennett explains. “If drugs are involved, or if prosecutors argue that there is particularly dangerous driving, that can complicate the case, but for most first time DUIs, they are resolved with some mix of probation and some kind of treatment requirements rather than significant jail time.”
Following Britney’s arrest, her rep said that the “Toxic” singer would “take the right steps and comply with the law.”
The rep added, “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.”
For a full legal recap, watch the video above.
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