Tiger Woods guilty of reckless driving, fined $1,500 driver’s license suspended for five years | Martin County

MARTIN COUNTY — Golf legend Tiger Woods was adjudicated guilty of reckless driving, fined $1,500 and had his driver’s license suspended for five years, according to court documents filed Sept. 2.

Woods, 50, whose legal name is Eldrick Tiger Woods, was in the Martin County Courthouse on Sept. 2, appearing before Judge Darren Steele, who ruled that Woods was guilty of willful wanton reckless driving, second offense, and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

If Woods violates the driver’s license suspension, he could then face jail time if arrested.

Woods left the courtroom with no comment to media awaiting his departure from the hearing.

Woods was arrested on March 27 by Martin County Sheriff’s Office deputies following a rollover accident on South Beach Road on Jupiter Island.

Woods was in court on Sept. 2 to plead no contest and then was adjudicated guilty by Steele, according to court records.

Woods initially entered a plea of “not guilty” on misdemeanor charges of DUI and refusal to submit to a urine test at the Martin County Jail. Woods, who was alone in the Land Rover SUV, was not injured in the accident.

Attorney Douglas Duncan, representing Woods, listed the Sept. 2 venue as a “change of plea,” which required Woods to be present in the court. A “change of plea” can happen when a defendant agrees to plea “no contest” and then a sentence could be imposed.

Woods was arrested on the DUI charge after his Land Rover SUV, traveling north at a high rate of speed, struck the rear of a trailer attached to a pickup truck which was attempting to make a right turn off the road, according to Martin County Sheriff’s Office reports.

Woods attempted to pass the truck at a high rate of speed, traveled over the double line and clipped the rear of the trailer, causing his vehicle to slide onto its side before coming to a stop, according to sheriff’s reports.

Woods, assisted by the truck driver, then climbed out through the passenger-side door, according to the arrest affidavit. Neither he nor the truck driver were injured, but there was about $5,000 in damage to the truck, according to sheriff’s reports. There were no passengers either in the Land Rover or the pickup truck.

Woods, who was wearing sunglasses at the time, was asked to remove them and investigators noticed that his eyes appeared to be bloodshot and glassy and that the pupils appeared to be “extremely dilated,” according to the arrest affidavit. Woods also was hiccoughing continuously during the questioning, according to the arrest affidavit.

Woods said that he has had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg and his ankle seizes when he walks, according to the arrest affidavit.

After performing a field sobriety test on Woods, a deputy determined that Woods’ senses were significantly impaired and that he should not be driving.

Woods was then asked to submit to an onsite breathalyzer test, to which he agreed. The results showed 0.00, Martin County John Budensiek said at a press briefing on March 27 outside Jupiter Island Town Hall.

Woods told investigators at the scene that he had not consumed any alcohol but said that he takes prescription medicine but no “illegal substances,” according to the arrest affidavit.

Woods told investigators that he was looking down at his cell phone and was trying to change the radio station at the time the accident occurred, according to the arrest affidavit. He had not noticed the truck in front of him slowing down, according to the arrest affidavit.

Woods was taken to the Martin County Jail where another breathalyzer test was administered and it registered 0.00, according to the arrest affidavit. While at the jail, Woods refused to perform a urine test.

He was then taken to the Cleveland Clinic emergency room in Port Salerno, where he was medically cleared and then was taken back to the jail.

Deputies found Hydrocodone pills – a prescription painkiller – in Woods’ pants pocket during a search at the jail, according to the arrest affidavit.

After being booked, Woods was released after 11 p.m. March 27 from the Martin County jail on $1,150 bail.

Woods’ last public appearance before the accident was March 24 at the Jupiter Links and Los Angeles Golf Club TGL finals match.

Woods, considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time, is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men’s major championships, and holds numerous golf records. He is an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

His first public appearance after the arrest was on June 23 when he spoke at a PGA Tour press conference in TPC River Highlands golf club in Cromwell, Conn., reading brief prepared remarks before introducing PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp.

Woods made no reference to his DUI arrest, nor did he take any questions.