Body cam footage from Justin Timberlake‘s DWI arrest in 2024 has been made available to the public, weeks after the singer filed a petition to block its release. The video, which has long been requested by media outlets, shows the singer being subjected to a field sobriety test after being stopped for weaving through lanes and ignoring a stop sign.
The Singer Fought Against The Video’s Release
In early March, Timberlake took legal action to prevent the public from seeing the body cam footage of his DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, New York, in 2024. As The Blast previously reported, several news outlets requested the footage from the Sag Harbor Village Police Department, citing FOIL (Freedom of Information Law).
Timberlake’s camp argued that the video contains “personally identifying information and private details” that the public is not privy to. At that time, a judge didn’t rule on the petition and instead asked the two parties to negotiate and come to an agreement.
Justin Timberlake And The Sag Harbor Police Reached A Settlement
On March 20, footage of Timberlake’s arrest was published by The Sag Harbor Express. According to reports, a judge had given the green light for its release after Timberlake and the Sag Harbor Village Police Department reached an agreement.
The videos released are only a fraction of the entire footage, as one of Timberlake’s attorneys noted in his petition that there were “approximately eight hours of continuous recording” related to his arrest, from the time he was stopped on the road until he was released.
The shorter videos may have been part of the settlement. The documents obtained by PEOPLE noted that the redacted version of the video “does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
The Singer Was Cooperative With The Officer
A three-minute video showed an officer approaching Timberlake’s car. The two exchanged pleasantries before the officer stated his reason for stopping the singer, saying he veered to the left of his lane and failed to stop at the stop signs. “Yeah. Sorry about that,” Timberlake said.
As the singer looked for the rental car’s registration, the officer asked him what he was doing. He told him that he was on a world tour. “A what?” Timberlake said it was “hard to explain” and repeatedly said “umm” before saying, “I’m Justin Timberlake.”
The officer then asked for his license and told him to step out of the vehicle.
Justin Timberlake Failed The Sobriety Test
Another footage, about 18 minutes long, showed Timberlake being subjected to a field sobriety test. The singer could be heard telling the officer that he’s “a little nervous” and his “heart is racing” as he was being given directions for the test.
Throughout the different tests, Timberlake kept apologizing, at one point saying that he had never done a sobriety test before. A friend of the singer’s came to the scene, and she was told that Timberlake was being arrested, as he had failed “every single one” of the tests. In his field sobriety report, the officer noted, “He had slowed speech, he was unsteady afoot, and he performed poorly.”
Timberlake was brought to the police headquarters for processing, but he refused a test to check his blood alcohol content. He was charged with DWI and was released the following day.
Justin Timberlake Pleaded Guilty To A Lesser Charge
In September 2024, three months after his arrest, Timberlake took a plea deal, which reduced his charge to driving while ability impaired (DWAI). He was ordered to pay a $500 fine and do 25 hours of community service at a non-profit organization of his choice. Additionally, his license was suspended for 90 days in New York.
Part of his deal was to make a public statement about the dangers of drinking and driving. Outside the courthouse, Timberlake faced reporters as he said, “Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of your car. There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend, take an Uber. There’s many travel apps. Take a taxi.”
The singer also took accountability, saying he made a mistake, adding, “I’m hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have.”