Justin Timberlake’s DWI Arrest: A Closer Look at the Bodycam Footage
Justin Timberlake, the 45-year-old singer and former member of N-Sync, found himself in a controversial situation when newly released bodycam footage from his June 2024 DWI arrest in New York surfaced. The incident, which took place in Sag Harbor, has sparked widespread interest and discussion about the star’s actions during the sobriety tests.
The Incident Unfolds
The footage shows Timberlake being pulled over by police and undergoing a series of sobriety tests. At the beginning of the clip, he is seen standing behind his vehicle, communicating with one of the officers. He was preparing for the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, a standard part of the sobriety assessment.
During the test, Timberlake could be seen slightly swaying as he stood before the officer. The officer then instructed him to perform the walk-and-turn test. At one point, Timberlake asked, “Do you want this one or this one?” while pointing to skid marks on the road. The officer replied, “It’s going to be the one of your preference, okay?”
The Walk-and-Turn Test
As the officer explained the test, Timberlake attempted to follow the instructions but quickly stumbled. He tried to explain that he was just following his friends back to his house. The officer then asked if he would complete the test, and Timberlake agreed.
He asked for clarification on the walk-and-turn test, saying, “Sorry, I’ve never done this so, I’m just…” The officer instructed him to keep his arms by his side, take nine steps heel to toe, turn around, and repeat the same nine steps. Timberlake started to do so, but after taking one step, he stumbled to the right.
“I’m sorry, I’m a little nervous,” he told both officers before completing the test.
The One Leg Test
Timberlake was then instructed to perform the one leg test. After giving instructions, the first officer asked, “Do you understand that? Do you want me to re-explain that?” Following a brief moment, the singer replied, “Um, tell me one more time. I’m sorry.” The second officer added, “Don’t worry about it. We want to make sure you understand everything fully.”
The first officer began to repeat the instructions, and Timberlake said, “Sorry, my heart is racing,” as he placed a hand to his chest. While he started to undergo the test, the second officer walked away as a female approached the scene and explained that she was a friend of the singer.
The Breathalyzer and Arrest
At one point, the singer was seen standing on one leg for five seconds before dropping his foot back to the ground. “By the way, these are like really hard tests,” the performer told the officers. The first officer then informed Timberlake that the final step was to take a breathalyzer test.
“If you’re below the limit, you’re going. You just, maybe, someone else can drive. It does seem like you are impaired, intoxicated,” the officer explained, with the singer simply replying with, “Okay.”
The bodycam footage then shows the star being placed into handcuffs. Timberlake had reportedly refused to take a breathalyzer test at the time of the incident.
Legal Consequences and Public Reaction
Timberlake later accepted a $500 fine in a plea deal to “move on” following his arrest in the Hamptons on June 18, 2024. He was initially charged with a DWI but admitted to Driving While Ability Impaired instead to avoid a drunk driving charge.
He also agreed to do a public service video for the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving. As Timberlake refused to take a breathalyzer at the time of arrest, it automatically triggered a suspension of his driver’s license under New York state law.
The release of the bodycam footage comes as he fought to keep it from reaching the public eye. The former boyband member filed a complaint in Suffolk County Supreme Court earlier this month, claiming that the release of the footage would be “an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”
Personal Struggles and Public Image
Timberlake’s recent years have been marked by challenges, including scrutiny over his treatment of ex-girlfriend Britney Spears during her conservatorship battle. Spears made explosive claims about their tumultuous romance in her 2023 memoir, The Woman In Me.
Additionally, his handling of Janet Jackson following a wardrobe mishap at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show has come under scrutiny. In July 2025, he shared news of his devastating illness after the end of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
When Timberlake was diagnosed with Lyme disease last year, it was revealed how his wife had pushed him to look for answers. He initially thought the exhaustion and pain he had been experiencing were part of getting older and the demands of his two-year Forget Tomorrow World Tour.
