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The April 19th arrest of Reese Witherspoon in Atlanta for disorderly conduct during a DUI stop brings up a lesson to be learned. Reports say Reese Witherspoon and her husband were pulled over in the early morning hours in Atlanta, GA after having dinner and a few too many glasses of wine. This arrest has been lightly covered in the press until May 2nd when TMZ released a video of her Atlanta arrest. A chastised Witherspoon has publicly apologized and admitted to lessons learned from the experience.“I am not surprised by the actions of the officer in this situation. Most people don’t understand the dangers involved in what seems to be a routine traffic stop,” explains Atlanta DUI attorney Thomas Rowsey. “The only information the officer has to go on before approaching a vehicle is from the license plate check. In this case, it was a rental. They didn’t know who was in the car or who was driving,” added Rowsey.
There is an expected protocol by law enforcement that is not widely known. In the case of Witherspoon, she was asked repeatedly by the arresting officer to get back into the car, which in refusing to do so and arguing with officers led to her subsequent arrest. During recent interviews, Witherspoon addresses her behavior in the video and reports of lessons learned. “When a police officer tells you to stay in the car, you stay in the car,” according to Atlanta Fox News on May 3, 2013.
“For my clients I provide a guide to traffic stop protocol, so as to educate them on the proper behavior to avoid unwanted arrests or treatment,” says Rowsey. Any driver should be aware of what is expected during a traffic stop so as to avoid a situation much like Witherspoon’s.
About Thomas C. Rowsey:
Thomas C. Rowsey is a criminal defense and personal injury attorney with more than 20 years of experience and a strong track record of success. Tom focuses on defending those arrested for drunk driving and helping them achieve the best possible outcome in and out of court.
Contact Info:
Name: Thomas C. Rowsey
Email: Send Email
Organization: Thomas C. Rowsey Attorneys at Law
Address: 42 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: 770-217-9893
Website: http://www.tomrowseylaw.com
Release ID: 12554