New video shows Britney Spears negotiating with officers at DUI stop

Newly released footage shows pop star Britney Spears refusing to exit her vehicle for roughly 10 minutes during a March traffic stop in Ventura County, while attempting to negotiate with California Highway Patrol officers who suspected her of driving under the influence, ABC7 Los Angeles reported Thursday.

The dashcam video, released more than two months after Spears' March 4 arrest, offers the first public look at an incident that ended with the pop star pleading guilty to a lesser "wet reckless" charge and entering a legally mandated treatment program — a case that drew intense media scrutiny across Southern California.

California Highway Patrol officers stopped Spears on March 4 following reports of erratic driving in Ventura County, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. Officers recorded the odor of alcohol from inside the vehicle and noted several physical signs — including red and watery eyes, dilated pupils, rapid and slurred speech, and an unsteady gait — in the DUI report.

In footage reviewed by the station, Spears remained inside her vehicle for roughly 10 minutes while attempting to bargain with the officers on scene. "You can come to my house. I'll make you food and lasagna, or whatever you want. I have a pool. My babies are coming to my house tonight supposedly," Spears told officers, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.

A CHP officer explained his reasoning for requesting she exit the vehicle. "I do smell alcohol coming from your car, OK? That's why I want you to step out and that way I can ask you some questions and conduct a DUI investigation. If I feel like you're OK, then I'll get you out of here, OK?" the officer said, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Spears disputed the allegation at the scene. "I wasn't even drinking. I had a mimosa this morning. You guys are lying," she told officers, the station reported. Officers ultimately conducted field sobriety tests on the sidewalk before transporting her to a hospital for blood testing.

Spears later pleaded guilty to "wet reckless" driving, a charge less serious than DUI. Under her sentence, she must complete a three-month alcohol education program that also requires weekly psychologist visits and twice-monthly psychiatrist appointments. A representative for Spears described the episode as "completely inexcusable," according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

The video's release comes more than two months after Spears' arrest, giving the public its first unfiltered look at one of the year's most closely followed celebrity incidents in Southern California.