Tiger's Trial Through the DUI Program
Tiger Woods found himself in hot water over Memorial Day, accused of driving under the influence. Rumors swirled that he was intoxicated while on the wheel.
Now, Woods is set to debut in a first-time DUI program. According to District Attorney Dave Aronberger, such programs typically require confession for lighter traffic offenses but come with conditions. The original hearing scheduled for midweek was pushed back to October 25th.
Mike Edmondson, Aronberger's executive assistant, confirmed Woods' status as a first-time offender and noted that no charges had been filed against him. Aronberger, unable to discuss ongoing cases, did provide information about the DUI program his office launched in 2013.
Upon entering the program, the state dropped charges of intoxicated driving and the defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of reckless driving. The defendant must meet certain requirements, including completing a DUI school, serving a probation term, and adhering to alcohol and drug restrictions.
By completing the program, the defendant's criminal record is not expunged. Instead, the court refrains from issuing guilt, effectively maintaining a charge of reckless driving with no conviction. Failure to successfully complete the program results in a second-degree offense being recorded in the defendant's file.
Woods did not appear in court. His attorney, Douglas Duncan, declined to comment on the situation. CNN reached out to Woods' attorney but received no response.
Police reports indicate that Woods was spotted sleeping in his Mercedes Benz from 2015 on the side of the road with its lights on and blinker blinking. Both rear tires on the driver's side were slightly damaged, and both front and rear tires on that side were flat.
The police found damage to the front bumper and white scratches and scrapes on the rear bumper, as well as a non-functioning rear light. Despite these findings, no collisions or property damage were recorded.
Woods was wearing a seatbelt and had to be awakened. He was slurring his speech and appeared disoriented, as per police records.
Dashcam footage leaked to the media showed a police officer asking Woods to exit his vehicle. A visibly unstable Woods moved slowly before stumbling back, prompting the officer to ask, "What are we doing here?"
Officer-conducted field sobriety tests revealed Woods' breathalyzer test returned a reading of 0.000 and a urine test showed no drugs in his system. Woods was reportedly cooperative throughout the ordeal.
In a statement following his arrest, Woods attributed his behavior to an "unexpected reaction to prescription medication," denying any connection to alcohol. In June 2017, Woods revealed that he was receiving professional help with medication for back pain and sleeping disorders. In July, he disclosed that he had completed a private intensive course outside Florida.
Originally a dominant force in golf, Woods has amassed 14 major championships, trailing only Jack Nicklaus. However, injuries required him to undergo multiple back surgeries since 2014, leading to a hiatus from tournaments since his forcible withdrawal from the Dubai Desert Classic in February. In a statement posted on his website on May 24th, Woods expressed hope to continue his professional career despite his recent setbacks.
Early this year, Woods underwent spine fusion surgery, marking his fourth since 2014. "It provided immediate nerve relief," he noted in the statement.
"I've never felt better," he added.
