Yahoo Lifestyle Justin Timberlake Cops To “Mistake That I Made” After Entering Impaired Driving Plea In DWI Case
“I’d like to say we can all be more safe out there, and I’m going to do my part,” Justin Timberlake declared today soon after entering an impaired driving plea in Sag Harbor, NY as part of a deal in his DWI case
As Deadline reported earlier this week, Timberlake was at the Long Island courthouse Friday to enter his guilty plea on a traffic violation charge stemming from his arrest on drunk driving charges in June. Agreeing to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired, Timberlake was sentenced to a fine of $500 and 25 hours of community service. The singer also was ordered to tape a public service announcement.
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The plea deal will see the initial driving while intoxicated misdemeanor charge dropped for the lesser charge of driving while alcohol impaired. The initial charge carried a maximum of one year behind bars and a $2500 fine.
“I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself, and this was not that,” Timberlake said outside afterwards in a de facto PSA.
“I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision. I but I’ve had some time to reflect on that, and I also understand by you know, the fact that all of you are here, that I have a platform, you have a platform, we share that platform,” the SexyBack singer added as his legal team looked on. “And so what I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you got one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber. There’s many travel apps still take a taxi.
“This is a mistake that I made, but I’m hoping that whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”
With the plea deal pretty much a done deal days ago, there was little drama out of today’s court appearance by Timberlake. Still, with the Trolls star’s star power shining bright, Fox News and MSNBC went live with Timberlake’s turn at the microphones this morning.
Earlier, an unsmiling Timberlake arrived at the courthouse on the Eastern end of Long Island near The Hamptons this morning to a crowd of reporters, fans and reportedly at least one protester holding a large photograph of a boy who apparently had been killed by a drunk driver.
In the cramped courtroom, Timberlake told the judge, “I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself. I should’ve had better judgment. I understand the seriousness of this.”
Timberlake’s New York drivers license is under a 90-day suspension for refusing a breathalyze test when stopped by police in Sag Harbor in June. The singer has been on and off tour during the legal proceeding since he was pulled over in the tony town this summer.
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