Busta Rhymes Sees Red, Arrested For Drivin' Dirty

Legal troubles continued for Busta Rhymes yesterday (February 22) as he was arrested in New York City on a traffic violation.

Busta (born Trevor Smith) was reportedly arrested and charged with driving on a suspended license after police say they pulled his vehicle over after running a red light. The rapper was taken into custody in lower Manhattan at approximately 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to reports by FOX News.

The rapper, who was due in court on Thursday (February 23) evening, could face up to 15 days in jail if convicted on the charge.

The arrest is just the latest in a string of legal problems for the Aftermath signee. As previously reported by SOHH, Rhymes was recently offered a plea deal by a judge in a Manhattan court that covers two assault charges stemming from two separate incidents, which allegedly occurred in August and December 2006 respectively.

Rhymes was arrested on August 19, 2006 and charged with assault after he allegedly assisted in the beating of a man who reportedly spat on the rapper's vehicle. Busta was again investigated several months later after he allegedly struck his former driver, 39 year-old Eddie Hatchett, when Hatchett visited the rapper's office to request back payment that he says the rapper owed him.

According to New York's WCBS-TV, Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy apparently informed Rhymes that if he plead guilty to a lesser third-degree assault charge, he would receive a conditional discharge. If he accepts the judge's offer, Busta would be sentenced to five days of community service, two weeks of youth lectures, and six months of anger management classes. He would also be on probation for three years. If he fails to meet the conditions of the sentence or if he violates probation, he could go to jail for a year. Rhymes has until March 26 to accept the plea agreement.