Reese Witherspoon and Husband James Toth Arrested in Atlanta on DUI & Resisting Arrest Charges

Early Friday morning on April 26^th, 2013, actress Reese Witherspoon and husband James Toth were both arrested in Atlanta, GA after Toth was pulled over by police on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. According to police reports, Toth was driving in the wrong lane on Peachtree St. in Atlanta, and upon pulling him over he appeared disheveled and smelled of alcohol. Police ordered him out of the vehicle and escorted him into the nearby Walgreen's parking lot to administer a sobriety test, which he agreed to.

At this point, Witherspoon began hanging out of the car window, arguing with officers and being verbally abusive. According to the police report obtained by Variety magazine, she said she did not believe that the cop was a "real police officer," and asked him "Do you know my name?"

She then stepped out of the car and continued to be uncooperative when the officer ordered her to remain inside the vehicle. After repeated attempts by Atlanta law enforcement to get her to calm down and get back inside the car, they then arrested her, which she resisted. Toth claimed that he had only one drink that evening but ended up blowing a 0.139 on the Breathalyzer test. The couple was arrested and briefly jailed until being released around 3:30am.

Toth and Witherspoon were in Atlanta shooting scenes for the upcoming indie drama film "The Good Lie." They have been married since 2011 and have one son together. Witherspoon is an acclaimed actress for many different roles over the years, most notably her performances in the films "Sweet Home Alabama," "Legally Blonde," and "Walk the Line," for which she won an Academy Award in 2005. Toth is an agent for the Creative Artists Agency, Hollywood's leading talent agency. Following her arrest, Witherspoon went on ABC's "Good Morning America" to issue a public statement apologizing for her behavior. She claimed she had "one drink too many" and that she exercised "poor judgment."

Witherspoon and Toth are not the first celebrities to be arrested for charges involving driving under the influence, and they will surely not be the last. Drinking and driving is a persistent problem in the United States and all over the world that affects millions of people every day. It is estimated that roughly 900,000 people in the US are arrested each year for DUI/DWI, one-third of which are repeat offenders. Not only does this cause serious legal trouble for those that are charged, it can also result in fatal situations. Roughly 12,000 people die every year from DUI-related accidents.

Drinking and driving is simply not worth it. Not only do you risk putting yourself and other people at danger by getting behind the wheel after drinking too much, you also create a mountain of problems if convicted. First-time DWI offenders face time in jail, thousands of dollars in court fees and legal fines, community service, drug and alcohol education classes, and suspension of driver's license. Second-time offenders face even harsher charges - more fines, more jail time, having an Interlock system installed in their car, and possibly an ankle bracelet to monitor their alcohol intake. Third-time offenders face prison time, and fourth-time offenders can lose their driver's license for life.

The best form of prevention for not getting a DUI or DWI is to simply not drink. In addition to legal trouble, alcohol abuse and alcoholism present a multitude of problems. But if you are going to drink, just don't drive. Call a cab. Get a ride from a friend. Walk home. Whatever you have to do, just don't get behind the wheel.