Orlando DUI attorney and television legal analyst Jose Rivas posted a video on his Facebook page breaking down the DUI arrest of Tiger Woods after a rollover crash on Jupiter Island, Florida, on March 27, 2026. Rivas answered the question many drivers ask after a drug-related traffic stop: can Florida police charge you with DUI if you blow 0.00? The answer is yes — and this case shows exactly how that works.
Woods was driving a Land Rover on a narrow two-lane road when he tried to pass a pressure-cleaning truck. The vehicles made contact. His SUV rolled onto its driver’s side. Woods crawled out unhurt through the passenger door.
Martin County deputies arrived and noted signs of impairment. His breathalyzer registered 0.00. He refused a urine test. Deputies charged him with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful chemical test — both misdemeanors under Florida law. He was booked, posted bail, and was released within hours.
“The breathalyzer coming back at zero doesn’t end the DUI investigation,” Rivas said. “Florida law says impairment means impairment — by alcohol, by drugs, or by prescription medication. If officers see the signs, they can make that arrest.”
What the Tiger Woods DUI Arrest Means Under Florida Law
Florida’s DUI statute, § 316.193 of the Florida Statutes, does not require a positive breath test. It requires proof that a driver’s normal faculties were impaired. Officers can build that case using their own observations, field sobriety test results, and body camera footage — no chemical result needed.
“A drug DUI — sometimes called a DUID — is charged under the same statute as alcohol DUI in Florida. “DUI with property damage is a first-degree misdemeanor. A conviction carries up to one year in jail, up to one year of probation, fines from $500 to $1,000, mandatory community service, and a driver’s license suspension. “People hear misdemeanor and think it’s not a big deal,” Rivas said. “But a year in jail is a year in jail. A DUI conviction on your record affects your job, your insurance rates, and your future.”
Woods also faces a separate charge for refusing the urine test. Under Florida’s implied consent law, § 322.2615, every Florida driver agrees to chemical testing the moment they accept a state license. Refuse after a lawful DUI arrest and you face an automatic one-year administrative license suspension — before a judge ever sees your case.
Florida worsened that in October 2025. Trenton’s Law (HB 687) made a first-time refusal to submit to a breath or urine test a second-degree misdemeanor — a criminal charge of its own, separate from the DUI. That adds up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine just for saying no to the test. “Most people still don’t know about this law,” Rivas said. “Refusing a chemical test used to just cost you your license. Now it costs you your freedom too.”
In the video, Rivas also addressed Woods’ 2017 DUI arrest, when Jupiter police found him asleep at the wheel with five prescription drugs in his system. Woods entered a first-offender diversion program and pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He received one year of probation and a $250 fine — a favorable outcome made possible by strong criminal defense work and a clean prior record.
That path is much harder now. Florida’s diversion programs are for first-time offenders. Woods already used his. “Prosecutors are going to look at 2017 and say that was your break,” Rivas said. “This time, expect a harder line from the state attorney’s office.”
How an Orlando DUI Attorney Can Protect You After an Arrest
Rivas used the Woods case to explain what any driver charged with DUI in Central Florida should do immediately. The first deadline is 10 days. Florida law gives you just 10 days from the date of arrest to request a formal review hearing with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Miss it and your license is gone automatically — no hearing, no appeal. An Orlando DUI attorney at the Rivas Law Firm can file that request the same day you call.
Beyond the license fight, a criminal defense lawyer in Orlando will examine every part of the state’s case. Did officers have a valid reason to approach your vehicle? Were the field sobriety tests given on level ground, in proper lighting, by a certified officer? Were the implied consent warnings read correctly before the test was requested? Woods’ history of back surgeries, leg injuries, and a 2025 Achilles rupture means his attorneys will argue his physical condition — not impairment — explains any struggles on field sobriety tests. “That argument applies to a lot of regular people too,” Rivas said. “Injuries, medications, and medical conditions are all fair game for the defense.”
A skilled Orlando DUI attorney may also negotiate for a reduced charge. A reckless driving plea avoids a DUI conviction on your permanent record, limits fines and jail exposure, and can protect your driver’s license. The firm’s past case results reflect what focused, early legal work can produce for clients across Orlando and Central Florida. To learn more about Jose Rivas and the Orlando DUI attorneys who will handle your case, visit the firm’s attorney profiles page.
Call 407‑644‑2466 to speak with an Orlando criminal defense attorney at the Rivas Law Firm, P.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get charged with DUI in Florida if your breathalyzer comes back at 0.00 like Tiger Woods?
Yes. Florida law allows a DUI charge based on drug or medication impairment even with no alcohol detected. Police rely on officer observations, field sobriety tests, and other evidence — and an Orlando DUI attorney can challenge every part of that case.
What happens in Florida if you refuse a urine or breath test after a DUI arrest?
Refusing a chemical test after a lawful DUI arrest triggers an automatic one-year license suspension under Florida’s implied consent law. Since October 2025, a first-time refusal is also a criminal misdemeanor under Trenton’s Law, adding up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine — so calling a DUI defense lawyer in Orlando right away is critical.
Tiger Woods got reckless driving instead of DUI in 2017 — can that happen again in Florida?
It is much harder with a prior record. Florida’s first-offender diversion programs are reserved for drivers with no prior DUI-related history, and prosecutors weigh past cases heavily. A criminal defense lawyer in Orlando can still challenge the evidence and work toward the best available outcome, but the options narrow significantly after a prior offense.
Orlando Criminal Defense Attorney Jose Rivas is a veteran bilingual TV Legal Analyst who has appeared on Univision, Fox News, Telemundo, and many other news outlets. He is highly rated on professional platforms, maintaining a 4.9/5.0 rating on Avvo based on dozens of client reviews.