Why Britney Spears's mugshot taken after DUI arrest won't be released

Britney Spears's mugshot will not be joining the ranks of famous celebrity booking photos.

Following the singer's, 44, DUI arrest last Wednesday, authorities have declined to release the image to the public, according to TMZ.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office determined that the booking photo does not meet the specific requirements for public release and is considered discretionary.

The department's policy is to release booking photos for violent crimes or when an individual poses an immediate threat to the public. 

Since the charges against Spears do not meet those criteria, the photo will remain private.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and Spears's representative for comment.

The pop superstar was reportedly 'extremely emotional' in jail, sources told TMZ.

Spears was driving erratically on the highway before being pulled over and arrested for DUI, a 911 dispatch call obtained by the Daily Mail revealed.

The pop superstar was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol at 9.30pm on Wednesday in Ventura County, after weaving in and out of lanes along Highway 101.

She was released around 6am on Thursday morning. 

Police reportedly found Adderall that the singer purchased in Mexico when she was pulled over. The pills will be tested to confirm if they are pure Adderall or laced with other substances.

Adderall is a prescription medication primarily used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and narcolepsy. 

Spears is allegedly willing to undergo a treatment plan and even check into rehab, a source told TMZ.

She has a court hearing set for May 4. 

In the 911 call, dispatchers and officers described the chaotic incident in real time.

One dispatcher was heard saying: ‘A black sedan, erratic braking, swerving and driving with no tail light.’

‘Can we send all units down towards this area please,’ another officer requested, as colleagues provided updates on the vehicle’s location.

Officers identified the car as a ‘2026 black BMW convertible,’ and the call captured them tracking Spears before finally pulling her over.

The dispatch call began around 8.13pm, with Spears driving in and out of the freeway lanes.

Around 9.13pm, dispatch confirmed: ‘Driver is out of the vehicle.’

Moments later, officers were heard speaking with Spears, describing the situation: ‘Talking with the driver.'

Once Spears was stopped, officers were heard discussing the next steps on the CHP call.

According to CHP officials, she showed 'signs of impairment' and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests.

One officer requested a DRE - a Drug Recognition Expert specially trained by the California Highway Patrol to assess whether a driver is impaired.

In the recording, another officer is heard trying to get the DRE to the scene as quickly as possible.

Following the arrest, a representative for the singer told the Daily Mail: ‘This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law, and hopefully this can be the first step in the long-overdue changes that need to occur in her life.'

'Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.

‘Her boys are going to be spending time with her, and her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue plan to set her up for success and wellbeing.’

Spears has two sons with her ex-husband Kevin Federline - 20-year-old Sean Preston and 19-year-old Jayden James - who live in Hawaii with their father.

Just last month, Spears was spotted behind the wheel of her Mercedes SUV, appearing to break the law as she held her cell phone to her face.

On February 12, she was photographed taking a spin around Los Angeles while appearing to be talking on the phone, which is illegal in California under the 'No Touch' law (Vehicle Code 23123.5).

She was not charged in relation to the incident.

It was, however, not an isolated incident for Spears, who, in recent months, was filmed swerving into the wrong lane on a highway after a night out. At the time, sources feared she was 'spiraling' amid the release of her ex-husband Federline's memoir. The two were married from 2004 to 2007.

Her history with the police also included being cited for a hit-and-run (misdemeanor) after hitting a parked car in 2007. This was dismissed after Spears paid an undisclosed sum to the owner, it was reported at the time.

She was also cited for driving without a valid California license in 2008, which was later dismissed by a judge.

In 2023, law enforcement visited Spears's home regarding a video involving knives, but no charges were filed.

Spears has had very public personal struggles for nearly two decades.

In 2007, the star famously suffered a harrowing breakdown after exhibiting worrying behavior in the months leading up to her infamous psychiatric hold.

The then 25-year-old had fans concerned after she shaved her head and attacked a paparazzi's car with a green umbrella - before checking into a rehab facility.

The Toxic singer suffered another setback after a disastrous performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, where her performance of Gimme More was heavily criticized by both fans and critics alike.

Then, in January 2008, she was put under lockdown at a facility after refusing to hand her young son over to ex-husband Federline.

More recently, she has been open about issues with her family as in early February she claimed she is 'scared' of them and 'lucky to be alive' in a bombshell social media post.

The pop superstar had lashed out at her family once again, four years after she was liberated from her 13-year conservatorship, which was primarily controlled by her father Jamie Spears, 73.

The hitmaker claimed that her relatives will 'never take responsibility' as she slammed them for 'isolating' her.

'I'm incredibly lucky to even be alive with how my family treated me once in my life and now I'm scared of them,' the singer wrote in a lengthy caption.

'They will never take responsibility for what they did,' she wrote, adding, 'We can forgive as people but u don't ever forget.'

At the end of her post, Spears detailed her latest health blow, stating she hasn't been able to dance because she broke her toe 'twice', four months after she sustained a 'horrible' leg injury.

Spears has had a contentious relationship with her family members for years following her 13-year conservatorship that ended in November 2021.

Her father Jamie was initially a co-conservator after the arrangement started in 2008, with the attorney Andrew Wallet serving alongside him until 2019.

The conservatorship was put in place following concerns for her mental health.

Over Christmas, Spears shared a scathing message seemingly directed at her family, after her younger sister Jamie Lynn, 34, posted a holiday snap with Spears's older son, Sean.