‘Don’t drink and drive’ - Justin Timberlake issues sobering warning

Justin Timberlake has warned the world not to drink and drive. The ' Cry Me a River' singer, 43, urged everyone to take a taxi home, "even if you've had one drink" on a night out, after he pleaded guilty in his DWI case - which was reduced to a traffic violation before he was sentenced last Friday.

After his punishment of a fine and community service was handed out at a Long Island courthouse, he said: "Even if you've had one drink, don't get behind the wheel of a car.

"There are so many alternatives. You can call a friend [or] take an Uber.

"This is a mistake that I made, but I'm hoping that whoever is watching and listening right now can learn from this mistake. I know that I certainly have."

Father of two Justin, who has kids Silas, nine, and Phineas, four, with his wife Jessica Biel, 42, was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, in the early hours of June 18 after he failed to stop at a stop sign and could not stay in his lane.

He accepted a reduced level at his Friday hearing of a traffic offence and pleaded guilty to a charge of impaired driving.

Police officers escorted him as he left his lawyer's office and crossed a street to the courthouse as a crowd surrounded the star.

Justin stayed standing throughout the proceedings and gave a statement in which he expressed remorse for his actions.

He said: "I did not live up to the standards that I try to hold for myself."

The singer added he was "grateful for the opportunity to move forward" and said he wanted to use his platform to help others make "better decisions".

He said to the judge: "I should have had better judgement. I understand the seriousness of this."

Justin will have to pay a US$500 (approximately J$78,500) fine, with a US$260 (approximately J$40,800) surcharge, and serve 25 hours of community service at a non-profit of his choosing.

The pop star originally pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanour charge of driving while intoxicated and had his driver's licence suspended during a hearing in August.

He will still have his driver's licence suspended due to declining a breathalyser test when initially pulled over by police.

In New York, refusing to take a breathalyser leads to an automatic licence suspension for a year.

Shortly after leaving The American Hotel after a night out with friends, Justin was pulled over while travelling southbound on Madison Street, a public highway in the upmarket Hamptons.

Cops had noticed Justin swerving on the road and going through a stop sign, and when they stopped him, they smelled alcohol on his breath and noted he was unsteady on his feet and had slowed speech and glassy eyes.

Justin was quoted telling officers that he had only "one martini" and then "followed his friends home".