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In a turn of events that has drawn significant public attention, Britney Spears has managed to sidestep jail time after being charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs in Southern California. On Monday, her lawyer entered a guilty plea on her behalf to a lesser charge, known colloquially as “wet reckless.”
Although Spears herself was not present in the courtroom, her attorney’s agreement to the “wet reckless” plea effectively downgraded the original DUI charge. This type of plea is a compromise where the DUI charge is replaced with reckless driving, but it is formally noted that alcohol or drugs were involved in the incident. The term “wet” in “wet reckless” refers to this legal specification, which is enshrined in statutes like California Vehicle Code §23103.5.
What is a “wet reckless” plea?
This plea is distinct from a “dry reckless,” where reckless driving is acknowledged without any implication of substance use. By accepting the “wet reckless” plea, Spears avoids the harsher penalties typically associated with DUI charges, including jail time, while the record still reflects the involvement of alcohol or drugs in the offense.
This distinguishes a “wet reckless” from a “dry reckless,” which is reckless driving without impairment.
Georgia does not have a formal statutory category for a “wet reckless” plea option. Instead, it has a single reckless driving statute, which applies to any driving that shows “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
In the state of Georgia, if a DUI case is reduced or bargained down, the charge is often changed to reckless driving involving alcohol — essentially a plea to reckless driving with the acknowledgment that alcohol was a factor.