Rip Torn Pleads Not Guilty To DUI

January 6, 2009 11:27 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - Actor Rip Torn has pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of DUI, stemming from his December 14 arrest.

The 77-year-old actor was apparently driving down Route 44 in Connecticut with a Christmas tree on top of his Subaru. Cops noticed that he was driving in a breakdown lane so they pulled him over. Torn failed part of a field sobriety test and refused to take a breath test when told to do so.

He pleaded not guilty to DUI and failure to drive in the proper lane.

This is the third DUI in five years. In 2007, he pleaded guilty in New York to driving while impaired, and in 2004, he was acquitted of drunk driving.