Springsteen’s Blood Alcohol Was Reportedly Only A Quarter Of Legal Limit

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Springsteen’s Blood Alcohol Was Reportedly Only A Quarter Of Legal Limit

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

This morning, TMZ reported that Bruce Springsteen was arrested for driving while intoxicated at Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ in November. But “a source familiar with the case” tells the Asbury Park Press that Springsteen’s blood-alcohol content was 0.02 when he was arrested, which is only a quarter of New Jersey’s .08 legal limit. If true, it’s unclear why he was charged with driving while intoxicated in the first place.

In addition to DWI, Springsteen was issued citations for reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area. Because the arrest took place on federal land, the case will be heard in federal court, and he’ll have to appear sometime in the next few weeks. Springsteen has no prior DWIs. Following news of his arrest, Jeep pulled his new Super Bowl ad from its YouTube channel.

UPDATE: According to an unnamed music industry insider in the New York Post, Springsteen’s arrest happened because he took a shot of tequila in full view of police after pulling over his motorcycle to take pictures with fans. “Bruce stopped, took the pictures, then a fan offered him a shot of liquor, which he took, while sitting on his bike, which was stationary,” the source said. “Park Police saw what happened and they immediately pulled Springsteen over as he drove away.”

Per TMZ, police are telling a slightly different story: That Springsteen was “glassy-eyed, swaying, and reeked of booze” when he was pulled over and that an officer observed that the bottle of Patron he took a shot from was empty. Springsteen allegedly admitted to having two other shots of tequila and that, when taking a field sobriety test, he took “45 steps when he was only asked to take 18.”

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