Justin Timberlake pleads guilty to traffic violation in DWI case: 'This is a mistake that I made'

Justin Timberlake has pleaded guilty to a non-criminal traffic violation of driving while impaired in connection with his arrest in the Hamptons on June 18.

Timberlake, who appeared in Sag Harbor Village Justice Court on Long Island, New York, on Sept. 13, agreed to make a public safety announcement, pay a fine and do 25 to 40 hours of community service. He has a year to complete the community service.

Timberlake's court appearance came two days after the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said it had reached a plea agreement with the pop star.

“Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard for myself, and this was not that,” Timberlake told reporters at a press conference after the court appearance.

“I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision, but I’ve had some time to reflect on that, and I also understand, you know, the fact that all of you are here, that I have a platform, you have a platform, we share that platform. And so what I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. There’s so many alternatives.”

“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,” he added.

Edward Burke Jr., an attorney for Timberlake, also addressed the case.

“Contrary to what was reported he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks or warned in advance not to drive,” he said. “He wasn’t rude, he wasn’t obnoxious, he wasn’t belligerent. In fact, he was polite, he was cooperative, he was respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement as they were to him.”

A statement from Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney read in part, "We appreciate his willingness to hold himself accountable for his behavior, and for using his platform to increase public awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. As previously stated, Mr. Timberlake received the same treatment as any other defendant. Justice should be applied equally to all individuals, regardless of their wealth or celebrity status."

Timberlake, 43, was driving a gray 2025 BMW when an officer observed him run a stop sign and then fail to stay in his lane on two occasions, the Sag Harbor Police Department said in a complaint released on June 18.

Surveillance video posted on Hamptons.com appeared to show a vehicle that matches the description of the one Timberlake was driving when he was pulled over and arrested by police in New York.

The officer initiated a traffic stop and determined Timberlake was driving in an "intoxicated condition," police said.

In the complaint, an officer said Timberlake's "eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath, he was unable to divide attention, he had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly on all standardized field sobriety tests."

The "SexyBack" singer told officers, “I had one martini and followed my friends home," Sag Harbor police said.

He refused to take a breathalyzer test three times, police said. He was placed under arrest and held overnight.

Burke Jr. issued a statement to NBC News following the arrest: “I look forward to vigorously defending Mr. Timberlake on these allegations. I will have a lot to say at the appropriate time but am currently awaiting full discovery from the District Attorney’s office.”

Timberlake ate at the American Hotel in the upscale Long Island beach town and then was headed to a friend’s home when he was pulled over, a source close to the star had told NBC News.

Timberlake appeared virtually at a court hearing on Aug. 2 and pleaded not guilty. His license was suspended in New York for the duration of the case.

Timberlake released his latest album, "Everything I Thought It Was," in March, and began his "Forget Tomorrow World Tour" in April in Vancouver, Canada.

When the pop star took the stage at a concert in Chicago on June 21 for the first time since his arrest, he thanked his fans for “growing up” with him over the years.

“We’ve been through ups and downs and lefts and rights,” he said to the cheering crowd. “It’s been a tough week.”

“I know sometimes I’m hard to love but you keep on loving me and I’m going to love you right back,” he continued.

Timberlake didn’t specifically mention the arrest.

Timberlake's tour dates are scheduled into 2025 and feature appearances in North America, South America and Europe.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com