Celebrity Justice
Britney Spears -- The Trial Must Go On

Common sense has not prevailed.

Britney Spears' driving without a license trial will continue as scheduled, according to a ruling released today. Brit and her people were trying to have the case put on hold or dismissed entirely. But alas, things will go on as planned.

A pretrial hearing is set for tomorrow with the real thing set to begin next Wednesday.

Just a reminder -- this is a trial over a misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid California driver's license. It's not like she broke into a hotel room with a few armed friends in an attempt to steal back sports memorabilia. Priorities, people.

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Britney Spears


Reader Comments

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16. Frank: I didn't say anything about sending her to jail. Maybe you ought to learn to read. I do think Ms. Spears should be held accountable for her actions; i.e. driving without a valid California Driver's License, when she'd been told numerous times it was against the law. And she's a menace on the roads...text messaging instead of paying attention to where she's going; talking on her cell phone (which is against the law in California); ignoring traffic signs and speeding. If you condone this type of behavior, perhaps you'd like to have her driving in your neighborhood. Britney has got to be held accountable; everyone around her is constantly making excuses for her inappropriate behavior and lack of good judgment. Don't you think a 27 year old woman should be forced to grow up sometime?

Posted at 8:39PM on Oct 7th 2008 by ditzymae

17. Obviously California is not going bankrupt and doesn't need 9 million dollars of taxpayers money

Posted at 8:45PM on Oct 7th 2008 by M

18. Hey #8:

She was never offered a chance to settle this, the prosecuitor has demanded a trial all along and also demanded a years probation as part of the sentence.

She was never charged with driving without insurance. She has had a valid license all along and now has a California license.

The vast majority of people charged with this offense are allowed to pay a fine through the mail and that is the end if it but for her we are having a trial.

This entiree thing is a publicity stunt by the prosecuitor and another example of how corrupt the legal system is in California.

Posted at 8:46PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Bill

19. The court system is dirty. The judge is allowing the attorney's to make a lot of money off Britney. Political back scratching stuff. There wouldn't typically be a trial with attorney's who are making thousands and thousands over a case of this nature. Dirty Dirty Dirty Courts.

Posted at 9:21PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Ms. X

20. White trash trailer park skank.

Posted at 9:42PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Crackhead

21. i think since she got her life back together i think they should let her off. she did learn from her mistake already. there is worse things going on in the world to be going after a small thing like this

Posted at 9:43PM on Oct 7th 2008 by amber

22. The trial is going forward because SHE wanted it. She sees that she is in danger of having her license suspended. She is already looking ahead to getting out from under the consersvatorship and driving all over the place like a maniac again. This would put a crimp in her style--hence fighting the charges. Besides which, NOBODY tells the Britster "No."

Posted at 9:49PM on Oct 7th 2008 by britbritisaskank

23. TMZ is mindless and arguementative. If a celebrity get's a pass for breaking the law they exploit it to no end. If a celebrity get's prosecuted for breaking the law, they exploit it to no end. This is not Britney's first run-in. She's gotten a pass by law enforcement on much worse things- I'm totally fine with California prosecuting to the full extent of the law on this- regardless of how insignificant TMZ thinks it is. Pleading "ignorance" to the law has NEVER been a valid defense for any common citizen. It shouldn't be one in her case either.

Posted at 9:50PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Sam

24. Penalties for Driving Without a License in California
Driving without a valid license is a misdemeanor in California, and the punishment for violating Vehicle Code 12500 VC by probation, time in county jail, and fines of up to $1000 plus surcharges. For a first offense, many prosecutors will reduce the charge to an infraction (which is not a criminal conviction) or dismiss the charge altogether if the person obtains a valid drivers license before the court hearing.

She is facing jail time if convicted. I don't blame her for fighting the charge, if I had the money I would also.

A court system and prosecuitor who would put this kind of pressure on someone under conservatorship for mental problems is a disgusting and sick person.

The vast majority of people charged with this are allowed to pay a fine through the mail if they get a California license (which she did) but not those who are good for some free publicity.

California sucks!

Posted at 10:03PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Bill

25. She is going to jail. I am betting the farm that this judge is going to put her in jail for longer than Paris got.

Under California code this offense can result in time in the county jail and I think the judge is going to make a name for himself.

There is a real possibility that she will breakdown and end up in a mental institution forever.

Posted at 10:41PM on Oct 7th 2008 by M

26. Of course they will have a trial for a little misdemeanor. Some dimwit judge wants a book deal or tv show out of this. What morons we have in the court system!

Posted at 10:52PM on Oct 7th 2008 by ObamaSux

27. Bill, thx for the reply, I didn't realize it was the prosecutor, you made some very good points.

Posted at 11:10PM on Oct 7th 2008 by Adrienne

28. I remember this charge. She had a drivers license for Louisanna and this over failing to get a California license after becoming a resident.In most states she would pay a fine and get her license, I never heard of such a dumb law. You should go to court if u are driving without a license at age 12...or revolked for dui and the likes of that..How bout a defensive driving course so she learn the california laws for the highwayll.

Posted at 11:11PM on Oct 7th 2008 by holy moly

29. TMZ..........So wishy/washy.Hated her, love her. Make up your minds, so everyone else will follow.

Posted at 11:53PM on Oct 7th 2008 by KNR

30. this is really stupid. I dont care where you live or who you are, this is not justice!!! If she ends up going to jail, then that will prove how corrupt the CA justice system really is. I have known lots of people that got busted for driving with out a valid license, and they only got fines. (and that was after their license was suspended or revoked). She just didnt go down and pay that $$ to the CA DMV, thats pretty pathetic!!!

lets make an example of a girl that had a mental breakdown for the entire world to see and is finally getting her life back on track. As long as she's legal now, she should just get a fine to pay and be done with it, just like anybody else would!!!

Posted at 11:56PM on Oct 7th 2008 by lmc617

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