It's been 20 years since the Rodney King verdict ignited the L.A. riots ... so Rodney himself helped us celebrate mark the anniversary. Ahh ... memories.

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Rodney King tells TMZ ... he sincerely hopes Trayvon Martin's family will eventually get justice ... but says Trayvon's case makes him realize how lucky he was to have his beating captured on tape.

Just days before the 20 year anniversary of the L.A. riots, King was in NYC promoting his new book in which he describes his journey through the violence ... from the infamous beating at the hands of LAPD officers ... to his public plea for peace.

"It's not one day that goes by that I don't think about the incident ... I get these headaches ... when I [sniff], my sinuses start burning."

Now, with the Trayvon Martin case stirring up similar emotions as his legal saga  ... King says the judicial system is a "slow process" .... and adds, "I'm hoping he gets justice for his family ... 'cause he's no longer here, so for his family."

King went on to talk about how his own life is finally heading in a positive direction ... but noted, "Luckily I got [my attack] seen on tape."

Rodney King just got a slap on the wrist for his DUI arrest last summer -- striking a plea deal in which he won't have to serve a single second behind bars ... despite the fact he has a prior DUI conviction on his record.

Rodney pled guilty today to reckless driving for the July 12, 2011 incident in Riverside County, CA ... and in exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the DUI charge.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Rodney's blood alcohol level was only .06 at the time of his arrest -- below the legal limit -- but marijuana was also found in his system.

King was sentenced to 20 days house arrest and 3 years summary probation. He is also required to attend a 9-month alcohol education program, and pay a $500 fine plus court costs.

King dodged a major bullet by avoiding the DUI conviction ... because he was convicted for DUI in California back in 2004 ... and in CA, 2 DUI convictions within 10 years means MANDATORY jail time.

"Barbershop" actor Michael Colyar has hired one of Rodney King's former lawyers to pursue a discrimination lawsuit against United Airlines ... because he thinks he was kicked off a plane for being black.

A rep for Colyar tells TMZ the actor has hired attorney Milton Grimes -- who repped King after the infamous 1991 videotaped police beatdown ... and won a $3.8 million settlement.

Colyar claims flight attendants were racially motivated when they kicked him off a United flight at Dulles International Airport last week.

"Can we all get along?"

Rodney King has been charged with misdemeanor DUI -- stemming from his July 12 arrest in Riverside County, CA  .... TMZ has learned.

TMZ broke the story ... King was pulled over after officers claim they witnessed Rodney committing "multiple infractions" behind the wheel. Cops eventually suspected he was under the influence ... and arrested him.

After the arrest, King told CNN he was under the influence of a "medical marijuana prescription."

If convicted, King -- who has a prior DUI conviction on his record -- could face some serious jail time.

Rodney King was suspected of driving while under the influence of marijuana at the time of his arrest yesterday ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.




We're told ... the Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies who initially stopped King in Moreno Valley, CA yesterday noticed Rodney exhibited physical signs of marijuana use.

King was detained and transported to a nearby station. After King submitted to a sobriety test, he was arrested for DUI.

We're told King also submitted to a blood test -- but the results are not in yet.  King posted bail and was released soon after his arrest.

Sheriffs are expected to submit the case to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office -- which will decide whether to prosecute King.

TMZ has obtained the mug shot for Rodney King -- taken moments after he was arrested on suspicion of DUI.



As we previously reported, Rodney was pulled over in Moreno Valley, CA earlier this afternoon -- after police observed him committing "multiple infractions" in his 1993 Mitsubishi.

Cops transported him to a nearby Riverside Sheriff's station soon after -- where King was eventually booked and arrested on suspicion of DUI.

So far, no word on what cops believe King was under the influence of.

Rodney King has just been booked for DUI ... TMZ has learned.



Law enforcement sources tell us King was driving a 1993 Mitsubishi in Moreno Valley, CA around 3:30 PM ... when officers observed him committing "multiple infractions."

King was detained and transported to a nearby Riverside Sheriff's station -- where he was eventually arrested and booked on suspicion of driving under the influence.

So far, no word on what substance cops believe King was under at the time of the arrest.

Infamous LAPD beating victim Rodney King is being detained by Riverside County Sheriff's deputies right now -- while officials conduct a DUI investigation ... TMZ has learned.



Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... King was pulled over around 3:30 PM in Moreno Valley, California on a routine traffic stop ... when officers suspected he may have been driving under the influence.

King has NOT been arrested -- but he's been transported to a nearby Sheriff's station for further investigation. No word on what substance police believe King may have been using.

King has a prior DUI on his record -- he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence back in 2003 ... after racing through a California intersection at more than 100 MPH and crashing into a utility pole and a house.

Authorities later said tests proved King had a "significant amount" of PCP in his system at the time of the crash.

Story developing ...

Rodney King had another clash with police this week -- the day before the 20 year anniversary of his infamous beating -- but this time, Rodney was only hit with a citation for driving without a license ... TMZ has learned.



Cops in Arcadia, CA received a complaint about a man driving recklessly in a green Mitsubishi Tuesday afternoon ... and when they located the vehicle, they saw King behind the wheel.

A spokesman for the Arcadia Police Department tells us King was pulled over when cops witnessed the car making an unsafe lane change -- and when they approached the vehicle, King admitted he had been driving with an expired license. 

We're told King was cited for the license -- not the reckless driving -- and immediately called a friend to drive him home.

And absolutely nothing else happened.