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Justin Bieber's Charges: DUI, Resisting Arrest, Invalid License

By Aditi Mukherji, JD on January 23, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The Biebs is at it again. Pop star Justin Bieber was charged with drunken driving, resisting arrest, and driving without a valid license after drag racing through a residential area in Miami Beach, Florida.

Bieber's entourage -- including his dad -- reportedly used their cars to block traffic on the road to create a drag strip for the 19-year-old singer. First alleged egg-tossing, now this. Sigh.

Here's a breakdown of why he Bieber charged with these crimes (or, as Bieber told police, "what the f--k this is about") and what prosecutors will need to prove:

  • Drunken driving. When the singer was initially pulled over in his rented yellow Lamborghini, the officer immediately noticed the smell of alcohol on Bieber's breath and his bloodshot eyes. He also had "slow deliberate movements" and a look of "stupor," according to the complaint. Biebs was booked into a Miami jail after he allegedly failed a sobriety test. The prosecutor will likely use Bieber's physical signs of intoxication and his failed sobriety test as evidence to satisfy the elements of a DUI offense, but will first need to establish that the stop was lawful (which it almost certainly was because, y'know, Bieber was allegedly drag racing).
  • Resisting arrest. Bieber allegedly began to resist arrest by pulling his right arm away while saying "What the f--k are you doing?" The prosecutor must prove that the arrest was lawful, that the officer didn't use excessive force (if he did, then resistance could potentially be considered self-defense), and that Bieber's actions actually amounted to resisting arrest and weren't just rude or annoying. Being slow to comply, cussing, and questioning the cop's actions or authority before complying aren't usually enough to warrant resisting arrest charges. The prosecutor must prove Bieber intentionally tried to prevent the officer from making a lawful arrest. The main question will likely be whether pulling your arm away counts as resistance or whether the charge was retaliatory.
  • Driving without a valid license. Bieber was caught driving with an expired Georgia driver's license. In Florida, you can face up to 60 days in county jail and a $500 for driving without a valid license. To get a conviction, the prosecutor must prove that Bieber was (a) driving and (b) didn't have a valid license. That shouldn't be tough to prove, as the arrest report states Bieber was behind the wheel and his license had clearly expired on June 24, 2013.

After Bieber's arrest, his bail was set at $2,500; he was then released from jail and driven away in an SUV, The Miami Herald reports. Maybe Bieber should stick to the passenger side and make new friends?

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