Tiger Woods lost his driving privileges for five years following a plea deal. The golf superstar accepted reduced charges in his Florida DUI case. A judge also issued Woods a stern warning during Wednesday’s hearing. The agreement allowed the case to avoid going to trial.
Tiger Woods accepted reduced charges to avoid trial, resulting in a strict five-year driving ban
As per a Page Six report, Woods appeared at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart on Wednesday morning. The defense and prosecution had reached an agreement before the hearing. As a result, Woods’ original charges were reduced.
The 50-year-old pleaded to reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test. The judge imposed a $1,000 fine for the reckless driving charge. Woods also received a $500 fine for refusing the test.
Both charges carried five-year driving bans, which will run concurrently. The judge made clear that Woods faced serious consequences. He warned the golfer against getting behind the wheel.
“If you drive for any reason at all, you will be going back to jail,” the judge said. The warning came after Woods accepted the plea agreement. The reduced charges brought an end to the immediate court battle.
Woods arrived at the courthouse with his attorney, Douglas Duncan. His girlfriend, Vanessa Trump, also accompanied him to the hearing. The couple reportedly arrived together in the same SUV.
The golfer was initially scheduled to appear before the court on September 8. However, a motion filed Tuesday moved his hearing forward. Woods had previously entered a not guilty plea to the original charges.
The case stemmed from a March 27 rollover crash near Woods’ Jupiter Island home. Deputies arrested Woods after he failed field sobriety tests. He also admitted taking several prescription medications earlier that day.
Four days after the crash, Woods announced he would seek treatment. “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” he wrote. He later spent nearly three months in a rehabilitation facility.
The plea deal now brought another chapter Woods’ legal case to a close. However, the five-year driving ban remains a significant consequence. The judge’s warning also made the conditions surrounding the ban unmistakably clear.
