Drink-driving charges made against Bruce Springsteen in November 2020 have been dropped in a New Jersey court hearing, though he was fined for the lesser offence of drinking alcohol in a national park.
Springsteen was stopped on his motorbike by police after he met with fans in New Jersey’s Gateway National Recreation Area, where he admitted to having two shots of tequila with them in a 20-minute period. The arresting officer claimed the musician was “visibly swaying back and forth”. Springsteen’s blood-alcohol level was measured at a quarter of the legal limit in New Jersey, but was still charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
Those charges have been dismissed, but Springsteen was found guilty of drinking alcohol in a national park. He admitted the offence, and said he knew it was illegal to do so in the park, and was fined $500 plus $40 in court fees. “Mr Springsteen, I need to know how long you need to pay that fine,” the judge, Anthony Mautone, told Springsteen. “I think I can pay that immediately, your honour,” Springsteen responded.
Jeep stopped airing its Super Bowl advert starring Springsteen in the wake of the allegations coming to light.
Following the hearing, the star’s lawyer said Springsteen was “pleased with the outcome of today’s court appearance”.
Earlier this week, Springsteen launched a new podcast series with Barack Obama, entitled Renegades: Born in the USA. “Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys, looking for a way to connect our own individual searches for meaning, truth and community with the larger story of America,” Obama said in a trailer advertising the series. “We still share a fundamental belief in the American idea. Not as an act of nostalgia, but as a compass for the hard work that lies before us.”
