Bruce Springsteen on Wednesday pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in a closed area during an appearance before a federal judge concerning drunk-driving charges from mid-November.
The government, meanwhile, dropped drunken driving and reckless driving charges against Springsteen, admitting his blood-alcohol was so low, it didn’t warrant the charges, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Baker. He was fined $540.
When asked by the judge how long he needed to pay the fee, Springsteen replied, “I think I can pay that immediately,” according to the New York Times.
Springsteen’s DWI case appears before a federal judge because the alleged crime took place in Gateway National Recreation Area, a Jersey federal park. The hearing was over videoconference, due to the pandemic.
The 71-year-old iconic rocker made international headlines after it was discovered earlier in the month he had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last November.
Springsteen was arrested Nov. 14 and was charged with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area, National Park Service officials reported.
Springsteen, according to the park ranger’s arrest report, initially refused a breath test. However, The Asbury Park Press, citing a source familiar with Springsteen’s case, reported that at some point he did submit to a test and had a BAC of 0.02, which is just a quarter of Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08. The musician’s BAC has yet to be verified officially.
News of Springsteen’s arrest was compounded by the fact that he starred in a Super Bowl commercial for Jeep just days before the news broke. That spot was pulled shortly thereafter. Jeep, on Wednesday afternoon, told The Hollywood Reporter the ad would be reinstated. “As we stated previously, we paused the commercial until the facts were established. Now, that the matter has been resolved, we are unpausing the film,” a Jeep spokesperson said in a statement to THR.
A rep for Springsteen did not immediately return a request for comment.
1:30 p.m.: Updated with comment from Jeep.
