Two charges were dismissed
Bruce Springsteen has pled guilty only to consuming alcohol in a closed area and will pay a $540 fine after the government dismissed DWI and reckless driving charges stemming from his DWI arrest in November 2020, in a virtual pre-hearing agreement. The Boss was formally charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area after taking two shots with fans at Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ last year. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Baker admitted the government “cannot sustain its burden of proof” of the DWI and reckless driving charges, according to Rolling Stone.
“The blood alcohol reading was .02, which as the court is aware, it well under the state limit of .08,” Baker claims during the hearing.
Springsteen admitted to having “two shots of tequila” inside the recreation area. However, the judge noted alcohol consumption was legal at the government park until three summers ago. He also referenced Springsteen’s clean criminal record, aside from three driving violations since 1973.
“Mr. Springsteen is pleased with the outcome of today’s court appearance,” Springsteen’s lawyer Mitchell Ansell stated after the hearing. “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.”
On November 14, 2020, an officer observed the 71 year old rocker “consume a shot of Patron tequila and then get on his motorcycle and start the engine” after being stopped by fans for a picture. The officer claims Springsteen refused to take a breathalizer test, but “smelt strongly of alcohol coming off his person and had glassy eyes” and “was visibly swaying back and forth while I observed his eyes.”
After the news surfaced earlier this month, Jeep pulled their two minute Super Bowl ad featuring Springsteen. The two minute ad, which was filmed in locations across the middle of the lower contiguous 48 United States, asked for fans to reunite and meet “in the middle.” The company has paused the campaign until further notice.
