Pop star Justin Timberlake had his driving license suspended in New York after pleading not guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated.
Timberlake, 43, was arrested on June 18 for running a stop sign and failing to stay in his lane. Appearing virtually from Europe, where he is on tour, he was formally charged with the crime in Sag Harbor.
Sag Harbor Village Justice Carl Irace suspended Timberlake’s license indefinitely, a standard procedure following a DWI arrest. Timberlake’s lawyer denied the singer was under the influence and argued for the charges to be dismissed.
During the virtual court hearing, Timberlake, dressed in a black-collared shirt, responded “yes” to the judge’s questions. He was in Germany, preparing for a performance in Antwerp, Belgium. Timberlake missed his initial court hearing due to his world tour, “Everything I Thought It Was.” The court reconvened because of a paperwork issue so they could formally charge him.
Timberlake was stopped shortly after midnight in Sag Harbor, a celebrity summer spot. According to a charging document, his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy,” and there was a “strong odour of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath. He refused a breathalyser test and performed poorly on sobriety tests.
“I had one martini, and I followed my friends home,” Timberlake allegedly told the arresting officer.
During the hearing, Judge Irace criticised Timberlake’s lawyer, Edward Burke, for making “irresponsible” comments to the media, warning he might impose a gag order if such remarks continued. Burke had previously claimed that police made “significant errors” and insisted Timberlake was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested.
In New York, DWI penalties can include up to a year in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a license suspension of at least six months. Timberlake, who has publicly discussed his struggles with excessive drinking, alluded to the arrest at a recent performance in Chicago, telling the crowd, “It’s been a tough week.”
