Bruce Springsteen pleaded guilty Wednesday to drinking tequila shots in Sandy Hook Federal Park last year, but dropped two other charges of drunkenness and reckless driving charges because his blood alcohol content was found to be far below the legal limit.
Prosecutors said they could not meet the legal burden for drunk driving, and the 71-year-old’s blood alcohol content was 0.02, which was well below the .08 threshold.
Springsteen wore a dark jacket with a knotted dress shirt under a sweater with a round neck and sat next to his lawyer, Mitchell Ansell, during the virtual appearance before Magistrate Judge Anthony Mautone.
He answered a few short questions from his lawyer and admitted that on November 14, 2020, he was drinking alcohol in a ‘closed area’ of Sandy Hook Park where drinking was recently banned.
“I had two small shots of tequila,” Springsteen said.
Assistant attorney Adam Baker said during the plea explanation that Springsteen did not take the preliminary breath test during sobriety tests, but did give a sample at the park ranger station. According to Baker, the initial test was not required by law, and Mautone added that it is also not permissible in court.
“The government does not believe it can sustain its burden of proof. We move the court with respect to dismiss the two (remaining) charges. ”
Following the conviction, Mautone sentenced Springsteen to pay a fine of $ 540.
“I’m not going to impose anything but a fine,” Mautone said, noting Springsteen’s history of clean driving dating back to 1973. “Rarely would you see an extract from a driver without any entries. I am convinced that a fine in this case is the appropriate sentence. ‘
Mautone said Springsteen’s driving history shows three offenses, including using a cell phone.
“Mr. Springsteen, I have to ask you how long you have to pay the fine?” Mautone asked.
Springsteen replies, “I think I can pay for it right away,” while allowing a smile.
The judge set Wednesday as the deadline for payment of $ 540, which includes $ 40 in court fees.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was born and bred in Freehold and now lives in Colts Neck.
“Mr Springsteen is pleased with the outcome of today’s court appearance,” Ansell said in a statement issued after the brief hearing. “The prosecutor could not provide the necessary evidence and facts as it relates to the charge. of driving under the influence (DUI) and reckless driving, and both dismissed the charges.Mr Springsteen, who has no previous criminal record of any kind, voluntarily pleaded guilty to a violation of the intake of a alcoholic beverages in a closed environment and agree to a fine of $ 500. We would like to thank the court and we will not comment further at this time. ”
The musician known around the world as The Boss was arrested after a park ranger saw him, took one of the shots of tequila and had the engine turned on on his Triumph motorcycle, according to court reports.
The park ranger who arrested Springsteen said the singer smelled strongly of alcohol, had glassy eyes and swung back and forth during sobriety tests.
Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and is managed by the National Park Service. In 2019, the park banned alcohol after hundreds of alcohol-driven incidents.
Springsteen made headlines earlier this month when he appeared in a Super Bowl ad for Jeep, a first for the musician. In the two-minute piece, called “The Middle,” the singer appears driving a Jeep around a church in Kansas while making a call for political unity.
After news of the arrest of DWI surfaced, Jeep said they were suspending the ad.
And earlier this week, Springsteen and former President Barack Obama released two episodes of the podcast they created, called “Renegades: Born In The USA.” The two discuss a variety of topics; the two became friends during Obama’s presidency and Springsteen played a private concert at the White House in January 2017.
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Kevin Shea can be reached at [email protected]