Local police have released body camera footage from Justin Timberlake’s arrest. He pleaded guilty to driving while ability impaired in September 2024.
Justin Timberlake files lawsuit seeking 2024 arrest on Long Island
Justin Timberlake is suing to block the release of police body camera footage from his 2024 DWI arrest.
Fox – 5 New York
Local police have released body camera footage of Justin Timberlake after he took legal action to prevent his release from prison after he was arrested for drunk driving in New York in 2024.
In June 2024, the 45-year-old “Can’t Stop This Feeling” singer was taken into custody in the wealthy Hamptons enclave on Long Island, New York, after police suspected him of driving under the influence. He pleaded guilty in September 2024 to driving while impaired, but the charge was a minor one. He agreed to pay a fine and perform 25 to 40 hours of community service at a nonprofit organization of his choice.
Roughly eight hours of video shared by the Sag Harbor Police Department captured the moment authorities took the NSYNC graduate away and Timberlake told him, “Guys, I’m just following a friend home.” He said he then drove a rental car for several days and appeared to have difficulty following sobriety test instructions, such as standing on one leg and walking straight from heel to toe.
“This is a tough test, so to speak,” he told officers in the video. Afterward, he said his “heart was racing” and “a little nervous.”
After being restrained in the back of a police vehicle, the man asked, “Why are you arresting me?”
USA TODAY has reached out to Timberlake’s representatives for comment.
The first video, released by TMZ in 2024, became a viral pop culture reference due to comments Timberlake made at the time about embarking on his “Forget Tomorrow World Tour.” He reportedly told the officer that his tour would be ruined if he was arrested, and the officer asked, “What tour?” To which Timberlake replied, “World tour.”
Justin Timberlake sought to prevent release of body camera footage
After TMZ shared a video showing the 2024 arrest, Timberlake took legal action to prevent the remaining police body camera footage from being released to the public.
Sag Harbor officials said the singer sought a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent the Village from sharing the footage. In court records reported by NBC and News 12, his attorney argued that the footage is not of public interest and is not subject to arrest, making it an invasion of privacy.
“The harms of public exposure, including stigma, harassment, reputational damage, and permanent loss of privacy, are immediate and irreversible,” the singer’s attorney said in court documents, according to NBC. Following negotiations between the Grammy Award winner and the City of Sag Harbor, the parties agreed to release an edited version of the body camera footage to the public on Friday, March 20th.
When was Justin Timberlake arrested?
Sag Harbor Village Police Department arrested Timberlake in the Hamptons on June 18, 2024 at 12:37 a.m. ET.
Timberlake, who was driving a 2025 BMW, failed to stop at a stop sign and “stay in his lane of travel,” and when officers pulled him over, they found him “operating while intoxicated.”
Was Justin Timberlake drunk? Has he taken an alcohol test?
He was detained overnight after refusing an alcohol test, but was released without bail the next morning. The New York Times reported that Timberlake told officers he had only had one martini.
One of Timberlake’s attorneys, Edward Burke Jr., told USA TODAY in July 2024 that Timberlake was not actually intoxicated when he was pulled over. He said the artist was drinking “one drink every two hours”.
“The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DUI,” Burke said, adding that police “made a number of very serious mistakes in this case.”
What crime was Justin Timberlake charged with?
Timberlake pleaded guilty in September 2024 to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired (DWAI), a non-criminal traffic violation. This charge is usually charged for driving a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but to a lesser extent. Unlike DUI, which means your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit (usually 0.08%), a DWAI usually means the test was below that limit.
As in Timberlake’s case, for a first offense, DWAI charges in New York state can result in fines of $300 to $500, up to 15 days in jail, and/or a 90-day license suspension.
Timberlake has already lost his license after refusing to submit to an alcohol test, which will result in an automatic one-year suspension in New York State. He also agreed to pay a fine and perform 25 to 40 hours of community service at a nonprofit organization of his choice.
