Police Release Justin Timberlake's DWI Arrest Video

Police have released body camera footage showing Justin Timberlake's 2024 drunken driving arrest in Sag Harbor, New York.

“Police in the United States have released bodycam footage of pop star Justin Timberlake’s 2024 arrest”

7NEWS Australia

The footage was released following a legal dispute between Timberlake's attorneys and local officials.

7NEWS Australia

According to the Associated Press, police suspected Timberlake was driving under the influence after observing the BMW he was driving swerving.

The News International confirmed that Timberlake was arrested in June 2024 when police spotted him failing to obey a stop sign and veering off lane.

FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth noted that Timberlake's legal team had attempted to block the footage from becoming public before reaching an agreement for its release with redactions.

The released bodycam footage runs approximately eight hours and shows Timberlake struggling through field sobriety tests.

According to the Associated Press and The News International, Timberlake is heard telling officers, "these are like really hard tests" as he attempts to follow instructions.

Associated Press

7NEWS Australia reported that Timberlake seemed confused by some of the instructions and asked police to repeat them multiple times.

Mint noted that Timberlake told officers he was "just following my friends back to my house" in a slow and seemingly slurred speech.

The Associated Press captured moments where Timberlake apologized to officers and explained his heart was racing due to nervousness during the encounter.

Timberlake's legal team filed a petition in Suffolk County Supreme Court in March 2024 to block the release of the police body camera footage, according to People.

“NEW YORK - Newly released police video is giving the public a closer look at Justin Timberlake’s 2024 drunken driving arrest in New York”

FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth

The petition argued that "public dissemination of this footage would cause severe and irreparable harm to [Timberlake's] personal and professional reputation, subject [Timberlake] to public ridicule and harassment, and serve no legitimate public interest," according to court documents obtained by People.

The News International detailed that Timberlake's team sued the Village of Sag Harbor, claiming the footage showed the pop star "in an acutely vulnerable state" and would cause "severe and irreparable harm" to his reputation.

A settlement was eventually reached as Mint reported that Timberlake's lawyers acknowledged the video "does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy under" the state's public information law and agreed to its release with redactions.

The Associated Press noted that both parties agreed to disclose a redacted version of the footage.

The legal resolution allowed for the video's public release, which FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth described as giving the public a closer look at Timberlake's 2024 arrest.

The News International confirmed that Timberlake pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving while ability impaired after initially being charged with driving while intoxicated and citations for traffic violations.

Mathrubhumi English

As part of his plea deal in September 2024, Timberlake agreed to pay a fine, complete community service, and record a public safety message about drunk driving, according to multiple sources.

Sag Harbor officials expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating they were "pleased the matter was resolved and they were able to comply with state public records law."

The village lawyer Vincent Toomey emphasized their commitment to "comply with the mandates of the Freedom of Information Law" throughout the process.