Bruce Springsteen pleaded guilty to one of three charges stemming from his DWI arrest in November 2020 on Wednesday.
Springsteen, next to his lawyer Mitchell J. Ansell, wearing a light shirt and a dark sweater and blazer, attended a virtual hearing in the United States District Court of New Jersey on Zoom before US magistrate judge Anthony R. Mautone. The 71-year-old musician consented to the videoconference in the case due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Springsteen pleaded guilty to drinking alcohol in an enclosed area. The government then proposed to dismiss the two additional charges of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving, which the judge approved.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BARACK OBAMA LAUNCH PODCAST TOGETHER
Bruce Springsteen pleaded guilty to one of three charges stemming from his DWI arrest in November 2020 on Wednesday.
(AP)
“I will not impose anything other than a fine because I think it is an appropriate decision for this case,” said Mautone.
Springsteen will now have to pay a $ 500 fine plus an additional $ 40 fee. The judge gave him a week to make the payment.
“I think I can pay that right away, Your Honor,” Springsteen replied.
Springsteen’s lawyer released a statement shortly after the hearing to express his satisfaction with the result.
“Mr. Springsteen is satisfied with the outcome of today’s court appearance. The prosecutor was unable to provide the necessary evidence and facts related to the Driving under influence (DUI) and Reckless driving charges and therefore dismissed both. charges, “Ansell from the Ansell law firm, Grimm & Aaron said. “Mr. Springsteen, who has no criminal record of any kind, has voluntarily pleaded guilty to violation of alcohol consumption in an indoor area, agreeing to a $ 500 fine. We want to thank the Court and will have no further comment at this time. “
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DWI ARREST DOCUMENTS SHOW THE SINGER FIRST BREATHING TEST REFUSED, ‘SMELL STRONG ALCOHOL’
Bruce Springsteen was arrested on November 14, 2020 in his home state of New Jersey for three citations, including DWI.
(Charles Sykes / Invision / AP)
It was discovered earlier this month that the singer was arrested in November by DWI, driving recklessly and drinking alcohol in an enclosed area. The incident occurred in the Gateway National Recreation Area.
Statements of probable cause obtained by Fox News show that “The Boss” allegedly refused to do a preliminary breath test when he was first approached by a ranger at the scene.
“Springsteen refused to do a preliminary breath test (PBT), despite signs of intoxication, notably after testing his gaze and walking and turning,” a ranger named RL Hayes claims in the document.
In addition, the ranger said he had watched the musician “consume a shot of tequila Patron” before getting on his motorcycle to “start the engine”.
Hayes claims to have informed Springsteen, a native of New Jersey, that drinking on the park grounds “is prohibited”.
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“The Patron bottle from which the dose was poured was completely empty (750ml)”, writes the ranger. “I asked Springsteen if he was leaving and he confirmed that he was going to drive out of the park.”
Hayes said Springsteen smelled like alcohol. “[He] it smelled strongly of alcohol coming out of him and had glassy eyes, “says the report.
The ranger also said he “observed four of the six clues in the horizontal look nystagmus test”. The musician was “visibly rocking back and forth as I watched his eyes,” said Hayes. “I observed five of the eight tracks in the walk and turn test. Springsteen took 45 steps in total during the walk and turn instead of the 19 instructed. [He] refused to provide a sample in the preliminary breath test. “
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The news of Springsteen’s arrest led to the deletion of his recent announcement on YouTube’s Super Bowl LV.