Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Golf star enters DUI offender program
Woods must submit to drug tests during probation
Tiger Woods got fingerprinted in a Palm Beach County courtroom Friday, but the legendary golfer no longer faces a DUI charge.
Wearing a dark gray suit, off-white shirt and sunglasses dangling from his neck, Woods pleaded guilty to a reckless driving misdemeanor as part of a first-time DUI offender program.
The Jupiter Island resident was chauffeured away from the Palm Beach Gardens courthouse in a black Chevrolet Tahoe, knowing that a conviction for his May 29 incident in Jupiter will not appear on his record.
But that could change if Woods, 41, fails to complete a yearlong probation and other rigorous requirements, Judge Sandra Bosso Pardo said.
Woods — who was arrested based on his impairment from medications, not alcohol — will have to submit to random drug and alcohol testing, and any violations could result in a 90-day jail sentence and $500 fine, the judge warned.
He must give up driving his 2017 Mercedes SUV for 10 days, but he won’t be burdened by an alcohol monitoring device because his case didn’t involve drinking.
The holder of 14 golf major championship titles signaled his understanding of the terms, but otherwise did not make any statements during or after a seven-minute hearing. Defense attorney Douglas Duncan also declined to comment.
State Attorney Dave Aronberg used the spotlight of Woods’ court case to tout the benefits of the program that has the golfer as its most famous participant.
“Mr. Woods was treated like any other defendant, except for the media coverage,” Aronberg said at a news conference after the hearing.
His office started the diversion program in 2013, with the endorsement of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization in Florida. The aim is to prevent repeat DUI offenses, and about 2,500 people opted for the program rather than attempt to fight the charge.
“It reduces the number of repeat offenders, and it saves taxpayers money,” he said, citing only one case out of 425 last year where someone in the program had another violation. Benefits for the public are reduced caseloads for prosecutors and less crowded court dockets.
Yet qualifying for the program is difficult. It’s not open to drivers who were in a crash or had minors or animals in their vehicles at the time of the arrest. Convicted felons also aren’t eligible.
“It’s only designed for first-time offenders where it’s a one-time mistake and you hope that person can live a productive, drug-free and alcohol-free life and not have a scarlet letter hanging over their heads for the rest of their lives,” Aronberg said.
Woods was arrested after a police officer approached his idling car in the 2900 block of Military Trail at 2:03 a.m. He appeared to be asleep at the wheel of his black 2015 Mercedes.
Police did not see him driving. But his black 2015 Mercedes had two flat tires, damage to the rims and bumpers, scrape marks on the driver’s side and a taillight appeared to be out, according to police.
While Woods was slurring his speech and stumbling around, there were no signs he had been drinking. He passed a Breathalyzer test with perfect 0.00, but still failed field sobriety tests, police said.
A patrol car dash-cam video shows Woods unsteady on his feet. He was unable to turn and walk a straight line, maintain a standing position on one leg or understand instructions to recite the alphabet. On his arrest report, Woods was described as “cooperative, confused.”
“Woods stated that he was coming from LA Calif from golfing,” wrote the officer who woke the golfer. “Woods stated that he did not know where he was.”
Woods later told officers the medications he had been taking included Vicodin and Xanax.
After his arrest made international headlines, Woods said he had an “unexpected reaction” to medication taken to aid his recovery from back surgery the previous month.
In August, Woods announced that he had completed an out-of-state “private intensive program” for dealing with pain medications and would “continue to tackle this going forward.”
That substance abuse treatment supported his entry into the county’s DUI offender program. Woods also has completed three other requirements: 50 hours of community service; attendance at DUI school; and an appearance at “victim impact panel” meeting, Aronberg said.
Woods, who still is required to pay a $250 fine and a $250 donation to Palm Beach County Victim Services, is permitted to travel as he pleases as long as he first checks in with his probation officer.
Woods, having declared his surgery a success, says he’s pain free and plans a return to golf.