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Tiger Woods has pleaded no contest to a reduced reckless driving charge following his March rollover crash in Florida.
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The 50-year-old golfer will have his driver’s license suspended for five years and must pay fines and court costs.
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Woods appeared in court with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, who sat behind him during the hearing.
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The plea deal ends the DUI case months after Woods was arrested and later entered an inpatient treatment facility overseas.
September 02, (THEWILL) — Tiger Woods has reached a plea deal in his Florida DUI case following a rollover crash earlier this year.
The 50-year-old golfer appeared in court in Stuart, Florida, on Wednesday, September 2. He changed his plea from not guilty to no contest. His DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving, while the charge related to his refusal to submit to a lawful urine test was changed to a careless driving citation.
As part of the deal, Woods will have his driver’s license suspended for five years. He was also ordered to pay fines, including $1,000 for the reckless driving charge and $500 for the test refusal, along with court costs.
Judge Darren Steele gave Woods a strong warning during the hearing. He said there would be “no exceptions” and that Woods could go straight to jail if he drove during the suspension.
The restriction could also raise questions about Woods’ use of golf carts. In Florida, golf carts can be considered motor vehicles in certain situations. Woods has often used golf carts during practice, so it remains unclear whether the driving ban could affect his ability to drive one.
Woods arrived at court with his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, who sat behind him during the hearing. The pair left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
The case dates back to March 27, when Woods’ Land Rover rolled over on Jupiter Island, Florida. Authorities said he was trying to pass a truck when his vehicle hit the truck’s trailer and overturned.
Neither Woods nor the truck driver was injured.
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Police later said Woods showed signs of impairment and had hydrocodone pills in his possession. He passed a breath test but refused to provide a urine sample.
Woods was arrested and initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. He later spent time at an inpatient treatment facility in Switzerland following the crash.
The no-contest plea brings the case to an end, but Woods will remain without a driver’s license for the next five years.
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
