Britney Spears booked on traffic charges

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Pop star Britney Spears turned herself in to be booked on charges stemming from an August fender bender, police said.

Spears, 25, arrived at the Van Nuys Community Police Station at 9 p.m. (midnight ET) Monday, said Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Mike Lopez.

She was there about 45 minutes while being booked on misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run and driving without a valid California driver's license, Lopez said.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.

The charges resulted from an August 6 incident in which Spears allegedly hit another car in a Studio City, California, parking lot. The paparazzi captured the accident on video. Watch Britney after she was booked »

The traffic charges are the latest in what has been a difficult year for the former teen sensation. Timeline: Britney Spears in the news »

A court on October 1 ordered Spears to give up custody of her two children to her former husband, Kevin Federline. Last week, a judge set conditions for Spears to gain increased visitation rights.

Spears and Federline have been embroiled in a bitter custody fight over their sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

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In September, a judge ordered Spears, 25, to submit to random drug tests after finding she engaged in "habitual, frequent, and continuous use of controlled substances and alcohol."

After filing for divorce in November 2006, Spears was frequently seen enjoying Hollywood nightlife, often in the company of "celebutante" Paris Hilton. Her behavior became increasingly erratic; in February, she shaved her head as paparazzi looked on, then spent a month in rehab.

Reports of partying and bad behavior persisted.

After her September 9 performance on the MTV Video Music Awards, critics derided her singing and dancing as lackluster and said she appeared overweight for her sequined two-piece costume.

Her divorce attorney, Laura Wasser, resigned last month as her legal representative after telling reporters the singer "just wants to be a mom."

Spears' management company, the Firm, also quit after representing the singer for little more than a month.

The pop star's first album of new material since 2003 is set for release later this month. E-mail to a friend

CNN's David Daniel contributed to this report.

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