Tiger Woods Heads To A Diversion Program

Tiger Woods will enter a diversion program as a result of his guilty plea to reckless driving. With a plea agreement in place, Woods, 41, faces a less severe consequence than if he were charged with driving under the influence.

Woods will take part in a Palm Beach County, Florida service which has seen over 2500 people graduate since its start-up in 2013.

According to Deputy State Attorney Richard Clausi, fewer than 1% of participants who complete the program re-offend.

“It’s still early, but we believe the program is a success,” Clausi said.

While in diversion, Woods will be on probation and be responsible for paying a $250 fine and court costs. As Woods was under the influence of prescription drugs and marijuana at the time of his arrest, he will also be mandated for regular and random drug screening.

Woods was arrested in the early morning hours on May 29, 2017, when law enforcement found him unconscious in his Mercedes-Benz. No one has been capable of discovering how the car suffered driver’s side damage and investigators couldn’t see any sign that Woods had collided with anything.

And In New York

Although Woods must complete a Florida program, New York has similar laws, but if Tiger had been found passed out under the same conditions in NYC, the punishment might have been harder.

New York prosecutors aren’t known for their willingness to work with DUI offenders.

In New York, Woods would have found that DUI diversion programs permit the offender to show he is capable of behaving responsibly.

While Woods was allowed to plead guilty to a lesser charge, in New York only first-offenders and driver’s who don’t cause property damage could be eligible for the diversion programs.

The May incident wasn’t Woods’ first time at the rodeo, AND there was property damage.

Woods, probably, would have been required to plead guilty to DUI and be sentenced for the offense. The sentence may have been suspended for a time to permit him to meet the terms of the program. Failure to adhere to the program guidelines would have meant the game is over and Woods would have faced the full penalty as the suspended sentence would be made active.

Then, in New York City, Woods would have looked at up to a year in jail, a healthy fine and possibly community service.