Tiger Woods Loses License for 5 Years in DUI Case Deal
By Staff Writer
4 min read
Key takeaways
- Tiger Woods resolved his Florida DUI case at a Sept. 2 hearing, entering a plea to a reduced charge of reckless driving, second offense, plus a refusal-to-submit charge.
- Judge Darren Steele suspended Woods' driver's license for five years and fined him roughly $1,500 across the charges.
- News outlets disagree on the plea's legal label: the Associated Press, which covered the hearing, reported a no-contest plea, while several other outlets reported guilty.
- The charge is listed as a "second offense" because Woods already used Florida's one-time diversion option after a 2017 DUI arrest.
- Woods has not played a PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship and has made only one public appearance since his March arrest, introducing new commissioner Brian Rolapp in June.
Tiger Woods appeared before Judge Darren Steele at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart, Fla., on Wednesday and changed his plea in the DUI case stemming from a March car crash near his Jupiter Island home, accepting a five-year license suspension to avoid jail time.
What did Woods plead to?
Woods' original charge of DUI with property damage was reduced to reckless driving, second offense. He also resolved a separate charge for refusing to submit to a lawful test, in this case a urine sample, and entered a plea to a careless-driving citation. He had pleaded not guilty to the original charges in March through attorney Douglas Duncan before reversing course this week.
Reports differ on whether Wednesday's plea was formally guilty or no contest. The Associated Press, which had a reporter in the courtroom, described it as no contest on both counts, a distinction that is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction under Florida law. Other outlets reported the plea as guilty. The practical outcome is the same either way.
What was the punishment?
| Charge | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving (2nd offense) | 5-year license suspension, $1,000 fine |
| Refusal to submit to testing | 5-year suspension (concurrent), separate fine |
| Careless driving citation | $163 civil penalty |
The two license suspensions run concurrently, so Woods will be without a license through at least 2030. Judge Steele told Woods he would go to jail if caught driving during the suspension. Woods, accompanied by girlfriend Vanessa Trump and attorney Duncan, left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
Why wasn't Woods offered a diversion program, like in 2017?
Woods was previously arrested for DUI in 2017 in Palm Beach County after officers found him asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes; he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and completed a diversion program with probation, a fine and community service. Florida's diversion option can only be used once, which is why this case is charged as a second offense and carries a harsher outcome.
Florida's diversion program is a one-time option, and Woods already used his in 2017.
What led to the arrest?
Woods was arrested March 27 after his SUV crossed a double solid line and struck a trailer on South Beach Road on Jupiter Island, rolling onto its side. Nobody was injured. He passed a breath test that showed no alcohol but refused to provide a urine sample, and investigators reported finding two hydrocodone pills, a prescription painkiller, in his pocket. He was held roughly eight hours before posting bond.
After the arrest, Woods said in a statement that he was stepping away to seek treatment, and a judge approved his request to travel to Switzerland, where he spent close to three months at a treatment facility before returning to Florida in June.
Frequently asked questions
What did Tiger Woods plead to?
A reduced charge of reckless driving, second offense, a refusal-to-submit charge tied to a urine test, and a careless-driving citation. The original charge was DUI with property damage.
What was Tiger Woods' punishment?
A five-year driver's license suspension and roughly $1,500 in combined fines, including a $1,000 fine on the reckless-driving charge and a $163 careless-driving citation.
Was Tiger Woods' plea guilty or no contest?
Reports differ. The Associated Press reported a no-contest plea, which is not a formal admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction. Several other outlets reported a guilty plea.
What happened in the crash that led to the charges?
On March 27, Woods' SUV crossed a double solid line and struck a trailer on South Beach Road near his Jupiter Island home, rolling the vehicle. He passed a breath test but refused a urine sample, and two hydrocodone pills were found in his pocket.
Why didn't Woods get a diversion program this time?
Florida's diversion program is a one-time option. Woods already used it after a 2017 DUI arrest in Palm Beach County, so the current case was charged as a second offense.
Woods has not competed in a PGA Tour event since the 2024 Open Championship. His only public appearance since the crash came in June at the Travelers Championship, where he introduced new PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp.
- tiger woods
- dui case
- reckless driving
- martin county court
- driver's license suspension
- jupiter island florida
- vanessa trump
