Another unpleasant episode of singer Britney Spears’ recent past can now remain in the past, as the jury in her misdemeanor trial for driving without a license could not reach a unanimous verdict, prompting the judge to declare mistrial.

It has taken less than ten days for Britney Spears’ long delayed traffic trial to commence and end, happily too.

The jury did not manage to exit the deadlock it had been struggling with since Friday. A fourth vote was once more 10 to 2, in favor of the singer’s innocence, a foreman stated in open court.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James A. Steele declared a mistrial and later dismissed the case.

Jury selection began in mid-October, with prospective jurors, of whom a great many were sent back home, expressing a variety of opinions, such as profoundly disliking the singer or blaming the paparazzi for her troubles.

Britney Spears was on trial for an August 2007 fender-bender. She was driving her car at the time, in a Studio City parking lot, apparently trying to flee the paparazzi, when she hit a parked car. She left the scene. Police said she did not have a California driver’s license at the time of the incident. She did have a Louisiana license and later obtained a California one as well. Paparazzi photographed the 26-year-old singer leaving the scene after having bumped the parked vehicle.

Spears originally faced a count of hit and run but the charge was dropped after she reached a civil settlement with the owner of the other car. If convicted on the misdemeanor charge of driving without a valid license, the singer faced a maximum of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Her attorney, J. Michael Flanagan, argued during the trial that Britney Spears considers Louisiana to her true home and that she did not in fact break the law by not holding a California license. He also commented that, had Spears not been so famous, the situation would not have escalated into a full-blown trial.

The sole witness brought forward by the defense was the singer’s father and current conservator, Jamie Spears, who testified that his daughter considers herself a resident of Louisiana, where most of her family in fact lives. Spears said his daughter resides in California as well because of her children, who are in the primary custody of his former son-in-law, Kevin Federline. Spears explained that his daughter currently has visitation rights but in order for these to be extended, she is required to live in the same city as her children.

The prosecution argued that Britney Spears had applied or a California license months before the accident occurred, without obtaining it though, and this showed her intent to stay in the state. Prosecutor Michael Amerian contended that major events of Spears’ life had taken place in California, her marriage, the birth of her two sons, the divorce, thus making the Golden State her home.

Spears did not appear in court during the trial.

At a press conference after the mistrial had been declared, jury foreman Gary Moy, 45, said he considered Spears’ celebrity to have been an advantage for her, as jurors identified with her and “inserted their personal feelings” when they made their decision.