Bruce Springsteen’s charges of DWI and reckless driving dismissed
He pleaded guilty to “consuming alcohol in a closed area” and was handed a $500 fine.
Image: Handout / Getty
Bruce Springsteen’s charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving have been dismissed, after a hearing today (24 February).
The hearing followed Springsteen’s arrest in November. While the DWI and reckless driving charges were dismissed at the virtual hearing, he pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in a closed area. During the hearing, Springsteen admitted to having “two small shots of tequila” at the Gateway National Recreation Area.
The charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving were dismissed because, according to Adam Baker, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the government, the government “cannot sustain its burden of proof.”
Baker noted that Springsteen’s “blood alcohol reading was .02, which as the court is aware, is well under the state limit of .08.”
Springsteen, who has no prior criminal history, was given a $500 fine for the charge he pleaded guilty to.
In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, his lawyer Mitchell Ansell said “Mr. Springsteen is pleased with the outcome of today’s court appearance. The prosecutor was unable to provide the necessary evidence and facts as it related to the charge of Driving under the Influence (DUI) and Reckless Driving and therefore dismissed both of those charges. Mr. Springsteen, who has no previous criminal record of any kind, voluntarily plead guilty to a violation of consuming an alcoholic beverage in a closed area, agreeing to a fine of $500. We want to thank the Court and will have no further comment at this time.”
Earlier this week Springsteen announced that he is starting a new podcast series alongside ex-president Barack Obama, entitled Renegades: Born In The USA. In the eight-episode series, The Boss and the 44th President Of The United States engage in a “long and meaningful conversation”, which was recorded last year.
The first two episodes of Renegade: Born In the USA, which arrived on Spotify yesterday (22 February) deal with racial tensions in the US, discussing the death of George Floyd and recounting anecdotes from both Springsteen and Obama about their earliest experiences with race and racism.
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