The Boss goes before the judge over drinking incident
Prosecutors have dropped drink driving charges against rocker 71-year-old Bruce Springsteen that had undermined his role in an advertising campaign for a car company.
Bruce Springsteen performs during a Celebrating America concert on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, part of the 59th Inauguration Day events for President Joe Biden. (Source: Biden Inaugural Committee via AP)
Springsteen was fined $US500 ($A630) on Wednesday after the rock star pleaded guilty to a charge of consuming alcohol at a US federally run New Jersey beach in November, with prosecutors dropping drink driving and reckless driving charges.
Springsteen, 71, who has made his home state of New Jersey and its shore scene a staple of his career of more than 50 years, entered his plea in an online arraignment before US District Court Magistrate Judge Anthony R Mautone in Newark.
Appearing on an online hearing, Springsteen admitted to downing two shots of tequila on November 14 at Sandy Hook beach, part of the National Park Service’s Gateway National Recreation Area, where alcohol consumption is prohibited.
Mautone also imposed $US40 in court fees on the rock star, who said he would pay the $US540 total immediately.
Assistant US Attorney Adam Baker said the government was dropping the driving-while-intoxicated and reckless driving charges because it did not believe it could meet its burden of proving them in court.
Springsteen initially had pleaded not guilty to all three charges. At the time of the incident, he starred in TV advertisements for Jeep, already controversial for the manner in which the car company sought to promote unity.
-Reuters
