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Reese Witherspoon Arrested; Husband Busted for DUI

By Brett Snider, Esq. on April 22, 2013 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Proving that celebrity won't always get you out of tickets, actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested for disorderly conduct last Friday. The "Legally Blonde" star was legally cuffed after mouthing off to a Georgia trooper who had pulled her husband over on suspicion of drunken driving.

Witherspoon's husband James Toth was charged with DUI after registering a 0.139% blood alcohol level in a breath test, CNN reports. But he apparently was not the only one that night who may have been a bit plastered.

The "Election" actress got herself into hot water after disrespecting a state trooper who told her to stay put in the car, ABC News reports. The trooper initiated the traffic stop after noticing that Toth couldn't stay in his lane.

Witherspoon repeatedly tried to get out of the car while Trooper John Pyland administered a field sobriety test on her husband. She received two verbal warnings from Trooper Pyland, which she ignored, leaving the car and declaring that she was an American citizen and had the right to "stand on American ground."

In general, passengers in cars stopped by law enforcement are required to follow officers' commands in order to protect officer safety. However, any person detained by a police officer may ask that officer, politely, for his photo ID and badge.

After disobeying the trooper's order by standing outside her car, and proclaiming that Pyland was not a real police officer, the "Sweet Home Alabama" star was then cuffed by the trooper. Yet she eschewed her right to remain silent and had some more choice words for the officer.

Witherspoon asked Trooper Pyland if he knew who she was and informed him, ironically, that he would be all over the national news for arresting her.

After their respective arrests for DUI and disorderly conduct, Toth and Witherspoon had some time in jail to sober up before they were bailed out the following morning.

Reese Witherspoon has since apologized for having "one drink too many"; in a statement, she said she was "deeply embarrassed about the things I said," ABC News reports. Her court hearing is scheduled for May 22.

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