Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to driving while impaired, to do community service

Justin Timberlake has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge following his arrest for driving while intoxicated in June.

The Grammy winner pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired, a noncriminal traffic violation.

According to NBC News and ABC News, Timberlake, 43, is set to pay a fine and serve community service. Judge Carl Irace, who presided over the case, asked Timberlake if he'd be willing to do community service in addition to his sentence, with the singer agreeing to serve 25 to 40 hours at a nonprofit of his choice, according to NBC.

"I try to hold myself to a very high standard. And this was not that," Timberlake told reports outside the courtroom after the hearing. "I'd like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you had one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car. There's so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber."

The singer's attorney, Edward Burke Jr., also told reporters, as he did back in July, that Timberlake was "not intoxicated" at the time of his DWI arrest. Burke said Timberlake didn't drink "other people's drinks" and only had "one drink in two hours."

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ABC reports that Timberlake has also agreed to appear in a public service announcement. Timberlake had his license suspended at a hearing last month, according to NBC.

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What did Justin Timberlake do?

Timberlake was first arrested by police on June 18, according to a press release from the Sag Harbor Village Police Department. Sag Harbor is part of the Hamptons, about 100 miles east of New York City.

Timberlake was pulled over in his 2025 BMW after failing to stop at a stop sign and "maintain his lane of travel," according to police. "Upon investigation it was determined that Mr. Timberlake was operating his vehicle in an intoxicated position," according to the police department. Timberlake told police at the time he had one martini, according to a report by The New York Times.

The singer was held overnight following his arrest and was released without bail following an arraignment. Timberlake didn't submit to an alcohol test, which comes with a one-year driver's license suspension in New York.

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What is DWAI?

DWAI involves a person operating a vehicle when their ability to drive is undermined by drugs or alcohol. However, unlike driving while intoxicated, the person's blood alcohol level is found to be lower than the legal limit, usually under 0.08%, and therefore is a lesser charge.

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For a first offense, as was the case for Timberlake, a DWAI charge can come with a fine of $300 and $500, up to 15 days in jail and/or a 90-day license suspension.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe