Full video: Justin Timberlake speaks publicly after plea deal in DWI case

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — Justin Timberlake spoke out after taking a plea deal in his DWI case on Long Island.

Timberlake, 43, appeared in court Friday in Sag Harbor and agreed to plead guilty to driving while ability impaired (DWAI), a lesser traffic violation. The DWI charge against him was dropped. 

The plea deal included a $500 fine with a $260 surcharge, as well as 25 hours of community service at the nonprofit of his choosing. Timberlake has a year to complete the community service. The deal also required Timberlake to make a public safety announcement, which he did immediately after his appearance in court. 

The judge was initially not happy with the terms of the plea, calling the penalties minimal, and asked Timberlake if he would also accept community service, which Timberlake agreed to.

Camera crews surrounded Timberlake as he entered court Friday morning, and a large crowd gathered outside the courthouse to await his statement. 

“I could have made a different decision”

Timberlake spoke outside of court after the proceedings Friday.  

“Many of you have probably been covering me for a lot of my life, and as you may know, I try to hold myself to a very high standard, for myself. And this was not that. I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision,” Timberlake said. 

Timberlake said he’s had time to reflect on the matter. 

“And so what I’d like to say to everyone watching and listening, even if you’ve had one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car,” Timberlake added. “There’s so many alternatives. Call a friend. Take an Uber. There’s many travel apps. Still, take a taxi. This is a mistake that I’ve made, but I’m hoping whoever’s watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. And like I said, even one drink, don’t get behind the wheel of a car.” 

Timberlake thanked the people of Sag Harbor for putting up with all of the attention that has been brought to the town. 

“We can all be more safe out there, and I’m going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part,” Timberlake said. 

Timberlake’s attorney said he was pleased with the reduced charge, and disputed any reports that Timberlake was drunk when he was arrested. 

“The evidence revealed that my client finished the contents of one drink in two hours at the American Hotel,” attorney Edward Burke said. “And contrary to what was reported, he wasn’t drinking other people’s drinks, or warned in advance not to drive. He wasn’t rude. He wasn’t obnoxious. He wasn’t belligerent. In fact, he was polite, he was cooperative, he was respectful during his entire encounter with law enforcement, as they were to him.”

Justin Timberlake arrested for DWI in Sag Harbor

Back on June 18, Timberlake was pulled over in the Hamptons village after he allegedly drove through a stop sign and failed to stay on the right side of the road.

According to court documents, the arresting officer said he could smell alcohol on Timberlake’s breath and that the pop star had bloodshot eyes, “performed poorly” on field sobriety tests and refused a breath test. Timberlake allegedly told the officer he had one martini earlier in the evening.

Timberlake was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment later that morning.

Timberlake appeared in court virtually on Aug. 2 and pleaded not guilty. At the hearing, a Sag Harbor village justice suspended his license to drive in New York, which is a standard practice in the state for DWI cases. Timberlake was in Germany at the time for his world tour.

The next stop on Timberlake’s tour is the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sept. 28. He will then play the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Oct. 7 before returning to the Prudential Center on Oct.8.

Justin Timberlake case back in court for virtual hearing

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — A judge suspended Justin Timberlake’s license Friday, as the singer pleaded not guilty to driving while intoxicated on Long Island. 

Timberlake attended the court hearing virtually from Germany, before his world tour heads to Belgium this weekend.

The 43-year-old pleaded not guilty to one count of DWI stemming from his June arrest in the Hamptons.

The Sag Harbor village justice then automatically suspended Timberlake’s license to drive in New York. The justice also threatened his defense attorney with a gag order due to previous comments about his innocence.

“We’re going to be filing motions and we’re going to let the content of those motions and the arguments contained therein, speak for themselves,” lawyer Edward Burke Jr. told reporters outside court. “We’re waiting for the prosecution to certify discovery, complete their obligations, and then we’ll take it from there.”

The case returns to court on August 9, and the justice said Timberlake may be required to attend in person in September.

Justin Timberlake arrested for DWI

Timberlake was pulled over shortly after 12:30 a.m. on June 18 in Sag Harbor, which is about 100 miles from New York City in the Hamptons. 

Police said he failed to stop at a stop sign, then failed to stay on the right side of the road. The arresting officer said his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and his breath smelled of alcohol. 

“I had one martini and I followed my friends home,” Timberlake allegedly told the officer.

According to court documents, he refused to take a breath test three times.

He was charged with DWI and released on his own recognizance.

Lawyer says Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated

Timberlake’s lawyer said in a statement last week that his team is “confident that this charge will be dismissed.”

“He was not intoxicated,” Burke said outside court last Friday. “I’ll say it again. Justin Timberlake was not intoxicated.”

In a statement provided to CBS New York, Burke claimed police made “a number of very significant errors in this case.”

“The most important fact to know about this case is that Justin was not intoxicated and should not have been arrested for DWI,” the statement read, adding Timberlake “cooperated with the police officers at all times and treated them with the respect they deserve.” 

Justin Timberlake on “Forget Tomorrow World Tour”

Days after his arrest, Timberlake appeared in Chicago for his world tour. He addressed the charges, telling fans, “it’s been a tough week.”

“We’ve been together through ups and downs, lefts and rights. It’s been a tough week, but you’re here, and I’m here,” he said.

He later performed at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan before taking his tour international. It comes to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the Prudential Center in New Jersey in October. 

Timberlake is among the best-selling music artists in the world and has 10 Grammys and four Emmys. The former Disney Mouseketeer launched to stardom with NSYNC before starting his solo music and acting career, appearing in films, like “The Social Network” and “Friends with Benefits.”