Tiger Woods, the 50-year-old golf star, pleaded no contest to reckless driving on Wednesday morning in a Martin County court in Florida. This plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors that reduced an initial charge of driving under the influence with property damage.
Under the agreement, Woods was adjudicated guilty of willful and wanton reckless driving, a second offense. He received a fine of $1,000 and his driver's license was suspended for five years. He also pleaded no contest to refusing to submit to a lawful test, incurring an additional $500 fine and a concurrent five-year license suspension for a careless-driving citation. Court records indicate he paid a total of $2,131.44 in fines and costs.
The charges originated from a rollover crash on 27 March near his Florida home on Jupiter Island. Martin County sheriff John Budensiek stated that Woods was driving a Land Rover that overturned after attempting to overtake a truck on a narrow two-lane road at a high rate of speed. Woods, who was uninjured, exited the vehicle through the passenger side.
Investigators observed signs of impairment and took Woods into custody after roadside tests. While a breath test showed no alcohol, Woods declined to provide a urine sample for drug testing. Court filings from prosecutors stated that Woods told investigators he had taken several medications earlier that day, including drugs for high blood pressure, cholesterol, ibuprofen, and the prescription painkiller Vicodin.
This plea agreement brings the criminal case related to the March crash to a close. Woods had previously pleaded not guilty to both charges.