Tiger Woods Avoids Jail After DUI Charge Is Dropped, Loses License for 5 Years

Tiger Woods avoided jail and a DUI conviction Wednesday after prosecutors dropped the impaired-driving charge in a Florida plea deal that left him convicted of reckless driving and without a driver’s license for five years.

The 15-time major champion pleaded no contest in Martin County court to reckless driving, second offense, and refusal to submit to a lawful test, resolving the case stemming from his March 27 rollover crash near his Jupiter Island home. He was also cited for careless driving and ordered to pay about $1,500 in fines.

Prosecutors dropped the driving under the influence charge after two toxicologists concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove that Woods was impaired by hydrocodone, a prescription opioid found in his possession after the crash.

County Judge Darren Steele imposed concurrent five-year license suspensions and warned Woods that he could face jail if he drives during that period. Woods agreed not to seek an exception allowing him to drive with a restricted license.

“There are no exceptions,” Steele told Woods during the hearing.

Woods had initially pleaded not guilty to DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Authorities said he was driving a Land Rover on South Beach Road when he attempted to pass a pickup truck towing pressure-cleaning equipment. His SUV clipped the trailer before leaving the road and overturning onto its side. Neither driver was injured.

Deputies reported possible signs of impairment, including bloodshot or glassy eyes, slow movements and difficulty with portions of field sobriety testing. Two hydrocodone pills were found in Woods’ pocket.

A breath test detected no alcohol. Woods refused to provide a urine sample, leaving investigators without a toxicology result showing what drugs were in his system at the time of the crash.

Woods told authorities he had taken prescription medication. Prosecutors later reviewed his medical and pharmacy records while investigating whether the medication impaired his ability to drive.

State Attorney Thomas Bakkedahl said Woods had developed a documented tolerance to hydrocodone after years of medical treatment and multiple surgeries. Two toxicologists reviewing the evidence concluded prosecutors could not sufficiently establish impairment.

That finding was central to the decision to drop the DUI charge.

Under Florida law, a prescription drug can support a DUI prosecution, but prosecutors must still prove that it impaired a driver’s normal faculties. Evidence that someone possessed or took medication is not enough by itself.

The reduced reckless-driving charge allowed prosecutors to pursue Woods’ driving conduct without proving that drugs caused it. Reckless driving requires proof of willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property.

Woods’ no-contest plea allowed the court to enter a conviction and impose a sentence without requiring him to formally admit guilt.

The reckless-driving offense was treated as his second. In 2017, Woods pleaded guilty to reckless driving after police found him asleep behind the wheel in Palm Beach County following an arrest on suspicion of DUI.

Woods, 50, appeared in court with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, and left without speaking to reporters.

His longtime manager, Mark Steinberg, said after the hearing that Woods remained accountable for what happened and would continue treatment while focusing on his health.