The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization told Newsweek it is "deeply disappointed" that Justin Timberlake was only sentenced to community service after taking a plea deal Friday to a lesser charge stemming from his June drunk driving arrest in the Hamptons.
The 43-year-old Cry Me A River singer's initial driving while intoxicated misdemeanor charge was dropped on Friday. Instead, he pleaded guilty to a non-criminal traffic violation of driving while impaired.
Timberlake, who shares two young sons with wife Jessica Biel, was sentenced to 25 to 40 hours of community service with the nonprofit of his choice in the Sag Harbor area. He will also have to pay a fine of up to $500.
A MADD spokesperson told Newsweek in a statement, "Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is deeply disappointed to learn that Justin Timberlake was granted a plea deal in his alleged DWI arrest. MADD does not support plea deals in cases involving impaired driving, as we believe justice should be fully served for such a serious crime. Driving while impaired is a dangerous and reckless choice that puts lives at risk, and the consequences should reflect the gravity of that decision. While plea deals are commonly granted for defendants with no prior DWI convictions, they should not be the norm for a crime that kills or injures someone every 78 seconds in the U.S."
"The key to eliminating this 100% preventable crime is lifesaving anti-drunk driving auto technology. The HALT Act, passed in November 2021, requires NHTSA to set a new national safety standard for anti-drunk driving technology in all new cars by November 15, 2024. That deadline is fast approaching, and MADD is urging NHTSA to take immediate action to ensure this lifesaving technology is integrated into every new vehicle to prevent people from choosing to drive impaired."
The statement to Newsweek concluded, "Unfortunately, the outcome of this case is similar to what happens every day across the country, to the dismay of victims and survivors of this crime. However, what was different today is that Justin Timberlake stood before a crowd of reporters, admitted he made a bad decision and urged people not to drive if they've had one drink. We hope that he will continue to use his platform to educate the public about the very real public health crisis of impaired driving."
Newsweek has contacted reps for Timberlake and Biel for comment.
Timberlake Speaks After Court: 'Take A Taxi'
When the judge asked Friday if completing community service in the affluent neighborhood of Sag Harbor was something he'd willing to do, Timberlake replied, "I'd be honored to."
After the hearing, Timberlake's attorney Edward Burke Jr. maintained that his client only had one drink in two hours on the night of his arrest.
"Contrary to what was reported, he wasn't drinking other peoples' drinks, or warned in advance not to drive," Burke stated, adding that the lesser charge Timberlake pleaded to is "consistent with these facts."
As part of his plea deal, Timberlake was required to make a public safety statement on the dangers of drunk driving.
"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. This is not that," Timberlake told reporters outside of the courthouse after the hearing on Friday. "I found myself in a position where I could have made a different decision."
"Even if you got one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car. There's so many alternatives: Call a friend, take an Uber. There's many travel apps. Take a taxi," Timberlake continued.
He also delivered a message to the people of Sag Harbor.
"I grew up in a small town, so I can appreciate and understand the strain or unique nature that this must have been on the people of Sag Harbor, but I just want to say to everyone who's been involved, from everyone in the courtroom to everyone outside, including the police department, that I'm very grateful, and I thank them," Timberlake continued.
He concluded, "This is a mistake that I made, but I'm hoping that whoever's watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have. I guess in closing, I like to say, we can all be more safe out there. And I'm going to do my part. I hope that everyone else does their part. Thank you very much."
Timberlake's Previous Drinking PSA and History With Alcohol
A 2001 Budweiser commercial starring boy band NSYNC talking about drinking responsibly has resurfaced after Timberlake accepted a plea deal on Friday.
"Hey, how's it going, we're *NSYNC," Lance Bass says in the commercial when the father of a teenager opens the front door to find the pop sensations.
"You know, the group *NSYNC?" Chris Kirkpatrick adds.
"We're just going door-to-door to say thanks," Timberlake says in the clip as Joey Fatone adds, "Yeah, for talking to your kids about drinking."
JC Chasez tells the confused, then smiling dad, "With all our success, you are still a bigger influence on your kids than we are."
In 2019, alcohol got Timberlake in trouble when paparazzi caught him holding hands with his Palmer costar Alisha Wainwright in New Orleans. Timberlake publicly apologizedto his wife Jessica Biel, 42, in a lengthy Instagram caption, admitting he "drank way too much that night" but "nothing happened between me and my costar."
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