Could Britney Spears' Decision to Seek Treatment Help Her DUI Case? Here's What a Legal Expert Says (Exclusive)
Could Britney Spears' Decision to Seek Treatment Help Her DUI Case? Here's What a Legal Expert Says (Exclusive)
Rachel DeSantis, Sean MandellFri, April 17, 2026 at 8:33 PM UTC
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Britney Spears in Beverly Hills, Calif. in April 2018.Credit: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty -
Britney Spears voluntarily entered a treatment facility after her DUI arrest and ahead of her May 4 court date
A legal expert says her proactive decision could help reduce potential jail time but won't impact her license suspension
"[It] shows the court and prosecutors that the person is taking the situation seriously," Bobby Taghavi says
Britney Spears voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility in the weeks after her DUI arrest — but could it help her case when she appears before a judge next month?
Spears, 44, is due to appear in court on May 4, two months after she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in Ventura, Calif.
A rep for the pop star confirmed to PEOPLE on April 12 that she was seeking help — a move that Bobby Taghavi, managing partner at personal injury law firm Sweet James and former prosecutor in the Orange County District Attorney's Office, tells PEOPLE could possibly help her.
“[Voluntarily seeking treatment] shows the court and prosecutors that the person is taking the situation seriously before they're ordered to do anything,” he says. “Judges tend to respond better to proactive accountability than last-minute ‘damage control.'”
Britney Spears in a recent Instagram with her sons.Credit: Britney Spears/Instagram
Taghavi says that Spears' treatment will likely have no effect on whether she loses her license, but there is a chance that her proactive decision can at least help her avoid jail time, and end up with an alternative like counseling, education programs and strict probation terms.
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“It's not a guaranteed shield from custody, [but] most judges view it favorably as mitigation, especially when it's documented, consistent, and shows real commitment,” he says. “But the court will still look at the underlying facts, and judges prefer proof of participation or completion, not just an announcement.”
He notes that common outcomes for cases similar to Spears' include probation, fines and/or penalties and DUI school, with jail “technically possible, but often not the centerpiece” in a standard first case. The DMV's decision to suspend her license, though, comes independent of what happens in court, and first-offense scenarios will often see a four-month or so suspension.
A source told PEOPLE that Spears' decision to check herself into treatment was largely inspired by her sons Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19.
"Her sons were a big part of getting her to rehab. They've been clear with her. They just want her to be healthy," the source said. “She was very upset and shaken after her arrest. And she's terrified of going to jail. It's taken weeks for her to realize that going to rehab is the best option.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
