Celebrity Justice
Brit's Lawyer: She Deserves a Break!

TMZ was in a Van Nuys courtroom today as Britney Spears' attorney, Michael Flanagan, asked that her driving without a valid license case be continued until January 2. I need me a break for the holidays, y'all!

As TMZ first reported in October, the L.A. City Attorney wants to place Britney on 12 months of probation for driving without a valid license. If they do, and she picks up another citation or happens to run over a photographers foot, that could constitute a probation violation and she could end up in jail just like Paris.

Flanagan told us today that the case needs further discussion and he wants to examine all the evidence -- hence why he's asking for more time. He also tells us he believes Brit's case should be regarded as nothing more than a fix-it ticket. He says 49 other states would see that Britney's Louisiana license was valid until 2010. He told us "She had a license, you can drive to California with it."

Spears was charged with hit and run and driving without a license, after allegedly hitting a car in a parking lot on August 6. The whole incident was caught on tape by paparazzi. The hit and run charge was dismissed by the court after a settlement was reached with the owner of the car she hit. Flanagan pleaded not guilty to the charges of driving without a valid license -- on behalf of the absent Brit Brit.

Reader Comments

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16. ...all this drama , created by one person, how the heck does she handle it...what a waste of time. hope she gets straightened out sooner rather that later, she could be doing so much good with her life instead of making one bad decision after another, sad for sure.

Posted at 1:25PM on Nov 26th 2007 by jr

17. I find it so funny that you keep talking about Brit running over peoples feet. If you clowns who talk so bad about her ,but hound her like a dog to get righ off of her, would leave the poor girl alone she wouldn't be running over anyones feet. Also, she wouldn't have to wear sunglasses at night to keep the glare of the flashing light bulbs from her eyes or running red lights. Someone out in CA needs to pass a law against you . I do think she needs to lay low for a while and stop going out and then you losers wouldn't be profitting from all of her mis-haps..Brit I hope you read this and stop letting them profit from you....love ya girl

Posted at 1:30PM on Nov 26th 2007 by sosad

18. All you people defending her are just as bad as her - GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!!

Posted at 1:28PM on Nov 26th 2007 by me

19. sorry chief, but in the state of Illinois, your old DL is only valid for 30 days before you must get a new one after moving to reside in the state.

Posted at 1:29PM on Nov 26th 2007 by t

20. Britney's pregnant again
read it here:
http://crisishack.blogspot.com/

Posted at 2:00PM on Nov 26th 2007 by crisis hack

21. Personally I think Britney is a waste of space. However, if a person doesn't want their foot being run over maybe they should give her a bit more space when she is driving. What is she supposed to do, just put her car in park and sit there all night while they snap their pics? Taking photos of her in public is one thing. Surrounding the car and taking them while she is driving is another. Would any of us be able to drive without problem with flashbulbs going off?

Posted at 1:34PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Lenore

22. This whole case should go away. If this is what is taking up the city court's time in LA then they need to put more people, aka police, on the roads. The city attorney is a fool to argue this. The lady involved has been compensated and it was a non moving violation. Good grief! Perhaps if the city attorney's office were more diligent in their handling of the paps on the road then the plea deal may have worked. She couldn't take it even if she wanted to due to the aggressiveness of them and they're also breaking the law, yet none are cited. Odd??
I predict 50/50 custody coming with Brit getting Christmas morning as she didn't have them for a meal on Thanksgiving and she was their primary care giver until 2 months ago.

Go Brit!

Posted at 1:32PM on Nov 26th 2007 by southern girl

23. If she wants to be left alone SOOOOOOOO BADLY, perhaps she should just GO HOME and stay there for a while. Everytime she goes out she's free and open game. Just, go home.

Posted at 1:34PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Ric

24. Her Louisiana license may not expire until 2010, but once you establish residency in another state, you have a limited amount of time to get your new driver's license. If you live in CA for more than 30 days, you are considered a resident. Her LA license is considered invalid because she is a CA resident. Her lawyer apparently needs to make a trip to the DMV because you can't drive on another state's license once you establish residency in another state. I don't know what other 49 states he's talking about, because I live in Vegas and it's the same way here.

Posted at 1:37PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Kitten

25. Honestly, she is young and has made several mistakes, however these paps are dangerous! If I had a swarm of people chasing me every single time I left, I would have some "accidents" myself. I can't even believe the media is ALLOWED to be involved with her custody case, let alone be the deciding factor, only in CA!!!

Posted at 1:44PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Me!

26. Britney's lawyer is trying to make the argument against California's requirements for Driver's license and trying to reverse the time after certain time of living in California. Once again, Britney is trying to get her special treatment. Under the California law, it says

Commercial vehicles and any vehicle owned by a California resident must obtain driver's license upon entry into California.Visitors whose vehicles are properly registered to them in their home state may operate their vehicles in California until they:

Accept gainful employment in California.
Claim a homeowner's exemption in California.
Rent or lease a residence in California.
Intend to live or be located here on a permanent basis (for example, acquire other licenses not ordinarily extended to a nonresident, registered to vote).
Enroll in an institution of higher learning as a California resident or enroll their dependents in school (K-12).


Britney has two homes (lease and own) residences right into the state of California. Britney's career is right into state of California. She is a California resident long enough is required to drive with a valid driver's license! For me, If I have it not with me, the minute I poof to the jail or get a hard time with penalties or what ever it is. Her Lousiana's Driver's license does not apply to California law after the certain time living in California and owns a home in California! Her lawyer is trying to make it a special exception on this case.

Britney is like a little rich, and spoiled girl, will never learn anything good from this.

Posted at 1:49PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Julie G.

27. What she really needs is a swift kick in the ass! With the way she is acting she needs to be living in a trailer park somewhere with the only publicity being COPS!

Posted at 1:52PM on Nov 26th 2007 by esbear1

28. In Texas, you have either 30 or 60 days to get a new driver's license whenever you have a new address. She should have known this and got a new license when she moved to Calif. But that's water under the bridge now, she has a valid license so leave the B--tch alone.

Posted at 1:52PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Janice

29. Ok, I can't believe I'm defending Britney but I need to. I do not think she should be penalized for running over a photog's foot. It is the photogs fault for standing so close to Britney's car in the first place. They put themselves in danger so they can get that MONEY shot. I'm suprrised she hasn't run over more.

Posted at 1:56PM on Nov 26th 2007 by REALIST

30. In most states, unless your active duty military, your license from the prior state is only good for 30 to 60 days. She changed her residence; she needed to change her license. There's no reason to be mean about it, it's simply the law.

Posted at 2:01PM on Nov 26th 2007 by Jennie

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