Sambora, who hasn’t BEEN regularly seen IN public with any women since breaking up with fiery Denise Richards, has found himself IN a whole new mess o' trouble FOR an alcohol-related crime while rehab is fresh IN his review mirror. Talk about livin' on a prayer.

Details are still emerging, but Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was stopped FOR driving erratically on a Laguna roadway AND late Tuesday night -- AND when officials smelled booze, he took a breathalyzer test AND promptly found himself IN jail.

Curiousity is certainly piqued because reports HAVE Sambora arrested IN his black Hummer with a woman AND two girls. It's BEEN confirmed that one of THE girls IN the car with Richie was his 10-year-old daughter, Ava Elizabeth Sambora.

Ava's mom is Richie's ex Heather Locklear -- who NO doubt has attorneys drawing up papers right now TO withhold custody of THE girl from her DUI dad.

Oh yeah -- this story is just beginning...