Pop star Britney Spears was arrested in California for driving under the influence.
The singer and mother-of-two, 44, was driving around Ventura County on Wednesday (4 March) when she caught the attention of cops.
It is understood that the 'Toxic' hitmaker was handcuffed and hauled off by California Highway Patrol officers after being pulled over at around 9.28pm local time last night.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office inmate records show that Spears was booked at 3.02am, before being released around three hours later.
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The music star was freed at 6.07am on Thursday (5 March). She is set to appear in court in relation to the alleged DUI on 4 May.
LADbible has contacted Spears' representatives and the Ventura County Sheriff's Office for comment.
In California, 'DUI' can refer to either alcohol or drugs, which includes certain prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines.
The blood alcohol limit in the US state is 0.08 per cent, or higher if you are over 21 years old. You can be sentenced to up to six months in jail and fined if convicted.
Ventura County is 'known for being particularly harsh when it comes to DUI sentencing', according to the Shouse California Law Firm.
It explains: "Even on a first time DUI, defendants receive jail time or work release and unusually steep fines.
"Specifically, punishment for a first offence Ventura DUI includes: a minimum 48 hours Ventura County Jail or 5 days work release, a 3-month Ventura County DUI School, 3 Years of probation, fines and penalties of approximately $3000 and a 6 month California Driver License suspension."
Coincidentally, Spears' Instagram page now appears to have been disabled as well.
Fans heading to her profile on the social media platform are greeted by an error message, which reads: "Profile isn't available. The link may be broken or the profile may have been removed."
Britney Spears: The last six months
Social media blackout and cryptic posts (October - November 2025)
In October, Spears posted a series of Instagram posts, one of which appeared to reflect on how her 2018 rehab stay had affected her. The post's picture, shared on 19 October, showed the singer riding a horse, while the caption compared her shoulder blades to 'wings' as she discussed the plot of 2014's Maleficent.
According to People, the 44-year-old mentioned enduring a 'traumatic experience' which she wrote about 'at the end' of her 2023 memoir, The Woman in Me, where 'for 4 months I no longer had my private door and illegally was forced to not use my feet or body to go anywhere'.
Spears then went on to say she felt 'like my wings were taken away and brain damage happened to me a long time ago 100 percent', meanwhile, another post on the same day described a conversation the 'Toxic' singer had with her grandfather before his death.
Before this, Spears had shared posts of herself dancing and drinking from a teacup, while another showed her with bandages around her wrists and legs, which she clarified was a result of 'falling down the stairs at my friend's house', adding: "It was horrible."
Her posts came amidst her ex Kevin Federaline's promotional tour for his book, You Thought You Knew, and in November, her account was deactivated.
Return to Instagram (November 2025)
The 'Circus' singer returned to the social media site on 7 November with a post which described her 'crazy' year, writing: "So much has happened this year, it’s crazy ... Get your ballerina [slippers], circle, and own your boundaries. It’s incredibly strict and somewhat of a form of prayer but with so many endless possibilities in life, it’s important to do you and keep it simple."
Music catalogue sale (December 2025)
In February, the BBC reported that Spears had sold her entire music catalogue to an independent music publisher, Primary Wave, for around $2 million (£146m), with the sale supposedly occurring on 30 December.
According to a source claim to The Hollywood Reporter, the sale included the rights to some of her biggest hits, including 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' and 'Oops... I Did It Again'.
The singer has not yet publicly commented on the reported sale.
'I will never perform in the U.S.' (January 2026)
In a lengthy Instagram post, Spears announced that she would 'never perform in the U.S.', citing 'extremely sensitive reasons'. However, she didn't rule out the possibility of performing elsewhere in the world, adding: "I hope to be sitting on a stool with a red rose in my hair, in a bun, performing with my son… in the UK and AUSTRALIA very soon."
Stalker restraining order granted (Early March 2026)
TMZ reported on 5 March that the Crossroads star had been granted a permanent restraining order from a man who, according to court documents, had allegedly been harassing her online since 2013.
The outlet further reports the 51-year-old man had been spotted by Spear's security guard when allegedly arriving at her residence, leading her guard to call police, with a deputy officer supposedly taking him into custody.
In the documents, Spears said she didn't know who he was or have any relationship with him, and the court has ordered him to stay 100 yards from the singer at all times.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.
Topics: Celebrity, Celebrity News, Britney Spears, US News, Music
Olivia Burke