Tiger Woods strikes plea deal in Florida DUI crash case; driver's license suspended for 5 years

Published September 1, 2026 4:35 PM PDT

A Florida judge suspended Tiger Woods' driver's license for five years and ordered him to pay a $1,500 fine on Wednesday, part of a plea agreement reached with prosecutors following his March 2026 arrest for suspected DUI after a crash on Jupiter Island.

The judge issued a stern warning to Woods upon delivering his sentence: His license has been suspended to protect the public, and if he chooses to drive within those five years, he will be sent to jail.

Tiger Woods gets plea deal in DUI rollover crash

What we know:

Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to lesser charges of reckless driving and refusing to submit to testing, according to court records. The judge adjudicated him guilty on both charges – and suspended his license for 5 years for each charge, though the sentences would be served at the same time (five years total suspension).

Woods was also ordered to pay court costs and fines.

Tiger Woods appears in a Martin County, Florida courtroom for a plea hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. 

"Sir, I want you to understand the five years of (suspended) driving is for the safety of the public. There are no exceptions. If you were to drive for any reason at all, you would go immediately back to jail," the judge said.

The backstory:

Woods was arrested in Florida on March 27, 2026, under suspicion of DUI after his Land Rover overtook another vehicle on Jupiter Island, and caused his vehicle to overturn.

He was also charged with property damage and refusal to take a urine test.

The sheriff's office said Woods took a breathalyzer test, which showed no alcohol in his sytem, but he declined to take the urine test.

Detectives found two painkiller pills in Woods' pocket during his arrest.

Woods: I'm stepping away to seek treatment and focus on my health

What they're saying:

Weeks after his arrest, Woods said in a statement on X that he understood the seriousness of his arrest and that he would be stepping away "to seek treatment and focus on my health."

"I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today," Woods said in a statement posted on social media. "I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery. 

"I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time."

Bodycam video released

In April, the Martin County Sheriff's Office released deputy body camera video of Tiger Woods' arrest.

The video shows deputies taking Woods through a series of field sobriety tests and his eventual arrest. In the video, Woods also claimed: "I was just talking to the president," referring to President Donald Trump.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct that Tiger Woods pleaded no contest to both charges and was adjudicated guilty.

The Source: FOX 35 obtained the court record showing Tiger Woods is scheduled for plea conference on Sept. 2, 2026, in Martin County. FOX 35 previously obtained bodycam video from Woods' March 27 arrest, as well as the probable cause statement. Woods also posted a statement on X weeks after his arrest.

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