`Dukes of Hazzard' actor charged with drunken driving

RINGWOOD, N.J. (AP) _ Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on the TV series ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' faces a drunken driving charge in northern New Jersey, authorities said Friday. <br/><br/>Wopat

Friday, March 17th 2006, 11:09 am

By: News On 6

RINGWOOD, N.J. (AP) _ Tom Wopat, who played Luke Duke on the TV series ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' faces a drunken driving charge in northern New Jersey, authorities said Friday.

Wopat was arrested in Ringwood and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, said Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County sheriff's department.

He was pulled from a Ford Bronco Wednesday night after hitting orange traffic cones and nearly striking a Ringwood police car sent to an accident, Maer said.

Wopat, 54, of West Milford, was released into the custody of his girlfriend, Maer said.

In the TV series, which aired from 1979 to 1985, Luke Duke and his cousin Bo, played by John Schneider, were known for driving a speedy 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee.

A movie based on the series was released last year.

In recent years, Wopat has worked on Broadway.