Pop singer Britney Spears was arrested Wednesday night in Ventura County, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to law enforcement information confirmed by multiple media outlets.
Authorities say the California Highway Patrol detained the singer around 9:30 p.m. She was taken into custody and later booked shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday, according to arrest records. The records indicate that Spears was released later the same day. She is scheduled to appear in court on May 4. Representatives for the artist have not publicly commented on the arrest.
The incident comes days after Spears obtained a permanent restraining order against a Louisiana man who had allegedly been targeting her online for years. Court filings state that the man, 51, had posted a series of troubling messages about the singer on social media since 2013. He was previously arrested in 2025 after showing up at her Los Angeles home and was accused of trespassing on the property.
Spears has had previous encounters with the legal system. In 2007, she faced several misdemeanor charges related to an alleged hit-and-run involving a parked car in Los Angeles. Prosecutors later dropped the property damage charges after compensation was paid to the vehicle’s owner, and a jury ultimately acquitted her of a remaining charge related to driving without a valid California license.
The arrest was first reported by TMZ and later confirmed by Variety. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances of the traffic stop.
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