M.A.D.D Says They ‘Don’t Support’ Justin Timberlake’s DWI Plea Deal

Justin Timberlake is not having a great year.

After admitting to having a few too many drinks back in August, Justin Timberlake was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. He was seen arriving in New York, where he is expected to plead guilty to the lesser charge of driving while impaired. 

According to CNN, the plea will include a to-be-determined fine, although the judge handling the case could force other penalties and still needs to approve the agreement at a hearing scheduled on September 13. Before the agreement, Timberlake had pleaded not guilty to the DWI charge back in June and he could have been convicted. He would have faced a maximum of one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) spoke out against Justin Timberlake’s plea deal as the organization found it to be a “disappointing” resolution.

A MADD spokesperson revealed to Newsweek in a statement, “Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is deeply disappointed to learn that Justin Timberlake was granted a plea deal in his alleged DWI arrest. MADD does not support plea deals in cases involving impaired driving, as we believe justice should be fully served for such a serious crime. Driving while impaired is a dangerous and reckless choice that puts lives at risk, and the consequences should reflect the gravity of that decision. While plea deals are commonly granted for defendants with no prior DWI convictions, they should not be the norm for a crime that kills or injures someone every 78 seconds in the U.S.”

In New York, a blood alcohol content of more than .05 “is legal evidence that you are impaired, ‘while’ a BAC of .08 or higher is evidence of intoxication,” according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

NBC New York reported that the judge said that Justin Timberlake must publicly state why people shouldn’t drink and drive and has added community service to his sentence. The judge also said he would have to do 25 to 40 hours, with the final number ultimately depending on how well his public statement goes. 

Justin Timberlake has said he is willing to do time. Driving while ability impaired is a traffic violation that could have a $300 to $500 fine and a 90-day license suspension. He initially pleaded not guilty to a drunken driving charge, and his attorney insisted in early August that he was not intoxicated.

Justin Timberlake wasn’t charged with the misdemeanor on June 18 after police said he ran a stop sign and steered out of the lane in Sag Harbor, New York. Moreover, Justin Timberlake was driving a BMW around 12:30 a.m. when an officer stopped him and determined he was intoxicated, according to a court document.

Police also said Justin Timberlake failed a field sobriety test and refused a breathalyzer test several times, saying, “No, I’m not doing a chemical test.” The arresting officer said that Justin Timberlake was “in an intoxicated condition” and that “his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage was emanating from his breath,” and he “performed poorly on all standard field sobriety tests.” 

However, Justin Timberlake’s Troubles are far from over. Britney Spears’s biopic is currently underway and will most likely include details of their high-profile relationship from 1999 to 2002. 

The memoir includes intimate details such as having an abortion during her relationship with Justin Timberlake over 20 years ago. The excerpt said that Justin Timberlake, “wasn’t ready to be a father” and “wasn’t happy about the pregnancy.” Entertainment Tonight reported that Justin Timberlake is focusing on his family and trying not to concern himself with Britney Spears’ memoir.