Why Florida State Attorney agreed to plea deal with Tiger Woods
State Attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit, Thomas Bakkedahl, explained to reporters the reasons his office agreed to reduced charges against Tiger Woods.
Tiger Woods reached a plea agreement on Wednesday, Sept. 2, in his DUI case, and under the terms of the agreement, Woods will have his driver’s license suspended for five years and must pay $1,500 in fines.
Initially, Woods pleaded not guilty to the DUI and related charges. However, during Wednesday’s proceedings in Martin County Circuit Court in Florida, he changed his plea to no contest for a reduced charge of reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test. His punishment means that he cannot operate a vehicle for the next five years, and if he does, he will face jail time.
“Sir, I want you to understand that five years of driving is for the safety of the public. There are no exceptions,” County Judge Darren Steele said. “If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would go immediately back to jail.”
The arrest stemmed from an incident on March 27, when Woods’ SUV collided with a trailer being hauled by a truck on a busy Florida roadway, causing his vehicle to roll onto its side.
When police arrived at the scene, Woods explained that he had been momentarily distracted, looking down at his cellphone and adjusting the radio, when he failed to notice the vehicle in front of him slowing down, which led to the accident. Officers said they observed that Woods appeared cooperative but was sweating profusely.
An arrest affidavit from the incident alleged that Woods failed several field sobriety tests conducted by officers at the scene. In addition, law enforcement discovered two hydrocodone pills in Woods’ pocket following the crash.
Throughout the court proceedings, Woods remained mostly silent, allowing his attorney, Doug Duncan, to speak on his behalf. He was accompanied by his girlfriend, Vanessa Trump.
“The ultimate decision was made to bring closure to the case and to allow Tiger and his family to move on with their lives,” Duncan said to the WPBF News.
When Thomas Bakkedahl, State Attorney for Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit, was asked by reporters whether Tiger Woods would be permitted to drive a golf cart while his license is suspended, Bakkedahl said, “My gut reaction is no,” but acknowledged he needed to double-check whether golf carts legally qualify as motor vehicles under state law.
According to Florida law, golf carts are defined as “a motor vehicle that is designed and manufactured for operation on a golf course for sporting or recreational purposes and that is not capable of exceeding speeds of 20 miles per hour.” While these vehicles are commonly used on private property without a license, anyone operating a golf cart on public roads or streets is required to carry a valid, government-issued photo ID.