Emma Watson is traded her keys for a commuter pass—at least for the next few months.
PEOPLE can confirm that the Harry Potter alum, , has been temporarily banned from driving following a speeding incident that took place nearly a year ago. On Wednesday, July , a U.K. court ordered the actress to stay off the road for six months.
The ban stems from an incident on July , , when a camera caught Watson traveling mph in a mph zone in Oxford, England. While mph over the limit might seem minor to some, it was enough to trigger a major legal headache for the star.
According to the BBC, Watson already had nine points on her driver’s license prior to this incident. In the U.K., accumulating or more points typically results in an automatic disqualification.
In addition to the six-month ban, Watson was ordered to pay a fine of £, (approximately $,) at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court. The actress did not attend the hearing, which reportedly lasted only five minutes.
Social media was quick to react to the news, with fans on X (formerly Twitter) making plenty of lighthearted wizarding world jokes. “I guess the Firebolt was in the shop,” one fan joked, while another quipped, “Even Hermione Granger can’t outrun a speed camera.”
Despite the viral driving drama, Watson has been keeping a remarkably low profile lately. The actress has famously taken a step back from the Hollywood spotlight since her last major role in ’s Little Women.
Instead of red carpets, Watson has been focused on her studies, enrolling in a master’s program in creative writing at Oxford University in September . She previously earned a degree in English Literature from Brown University in .
In a December interview with British Vogue, Watson opened up about her decision to step away from acting, saying she felt a new sense of “autonomy” and “sovereignty” by giving herself space to breathe.
“I’m so glad that I allowed things to be messy for a minute and to really allow myself to not know [what’s next],” she told the outlet.
While she’s been busy with her studies and her gin brand, Renais—which she launched with her brother Alex in —Watson does make the occasional rare appearance. She was spotted looking “very low-key” at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February and graced the Cannes Film Festival in May.
A rep for Watson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
For now, it looks like the star will be sticking to the passenger seat as she navigates her final year at Oxford.
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