Police bodycam footage of pop star Justin Timberlake’s 2024 drink-driving arrest in Sag Harbor, New York, has been released following a settlement between Timberlake and the Village of Sag Harbor. The release comes after the singer had previously sued to block the footage, citing concerns over privacy and reputational harm.
Timberlake, 45, was arrested in June 2024 after officers observed him driving through a stop sign and veering onto the wrong side of the road. He was initially charged with driving while intoxicated but ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser, non-criminal traffic offence of driving while impaired.
Footage Details
The partially redacted footage, spanning more than eight hours, shows Timberlake during the traffic stop and later at the police station. In the video, Timberlake is seen stumbling during sobriety tests and explaining to officers that he was on a world tour.
An officer approached Timberlake through the driver’s-side window, noting that he had veered into the left side of the road and failed to stop at stop signs. Timberlake responded,
“Yeah, sorry about that,” and confirmed that he was driving a rental vehicle. When asked about his name and tour, Timberlake explained, “A world tour… I’m Justin Timberlake.”
The charging documents describe Timberlake’s eyes as “bloodshot and glassy” with a “strong odour of an alcoholic beverage” on his breath. Footage shows him performing sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and following an officer’s hand movements with his eyes. He declined a breathalyser test and admitted to being “a little nervous” while attempting the exercises.
At one point, Timberlake told officers, “By the way, these are, like, these are really hard tests.” He was later handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car while an accompanying individual pleaded with officers not to arrest him.
Legal Proceedings and Settlement
Timberlake’s lawyers had argued that releasing the footage would reveal him “in an acutely vulnerable state” and cause “severe and irreparable harm” to his reputation. However, a judge ruled that releasing the footage would not constitute an invasion of privacy. Both parties agreed to release the redacted video.
Under the court ruling, Timberlake was fined Ksh66,000 with a Ksh33,000 surcharge, completed 25 hours of community service, and made a public safety announcement. At the time, he said,
“Even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car. This is a mistake I have made, but I hope whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this. I know I certainly have.”
The footage offers a rare and candid glimpse of the singer’s encounter with law enforcement, highlighting the consequences of drink-driving even for high-profile individuals.
