When most people hear the word DUI, they immediately think of alcohol.
A bar. Too many drinks. A breath test. A blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit.
But DUI does not simply mean drunk driving.
Tiger Woods’ most recent case in Florida is a high-profile reminder that impairment can involve prescription medication, illegal drugs, alcohol, or a combination of substances. It also raises an important question that many drivers do not understand:
Can you get a DUI when alcohol is not involved?
Absolutely.
And for California drivers, that distinction is important.
What Happened in Tiger Woods’ 2026 Case?
In March 2026, Tiger Woods was involved in a rollover crash near his home in Florida.
According to court records and news reports, Woods’ vehicle struck the rear of a maintenance vehicle and overturned. Fortunately, nobody was injured.
Law enforcement officers investigating the crash suspected impairment. Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI after officers reported that he showed signs of impairment and performed poorly on field sobriety testing.
Two pills were also recovered from his pocket that Woods identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid.
But there is an important distinction between an arrest and a conviction.
The DUI charge was ultimately dropped. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to prove impairment, with toxicologists reviewing the evidence and Woods having lawful prescriptions for pain medication.
In September 2026, Woods resolved the case by pleading no contest to reckless driving and refusal to submit to a lawful test. He was also found guilty of careless driving, paid $1,500 in fines, and received a five-year driver’s license suspension.
That distinction matters.
It would be inaccurate to say Tiger Woods was convicted of DUI in this 2026 case. He wasn’t.
But the circumstances surrounding the arrest provide an opportunity to talk about something that is widely misunderstood.
DUI Does Not Necessarily Mean Alcohol
I’ve worked in the ignition interlock industry for more than 26 years, and one of the biggest misunderstandings surrounding DUI is the assumption that it always involves alcohol.
It doesn’t.
California’s DUI laws apply to both alcohol and drugs. The California DMV specifically warns that prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect someone’s ability to drive safely. The fact that a medication was legally prescribed does not automatically mean someone can safely operate a vehicle after taking it.
That’s an important distinction.
A person could theoretically have a 0.00 BAC and still be arrested for DUI if law enforcement believes that person is under the influence of a drug that affects the ability to drive safely.
Tiger Woods Has Been Here Before
The 2026 incident is particularly notable because this isn’t Woods’ first highly publicized impaired-driving case.
In 2017, Woods was arrested in Florida after police found him asleep behind the wheel.
That case also wasn’t about alcohol.
His breath alcohol tests registered 0.000.
A toxicology report later identified several substances in his system, including prescription medications. Woods ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving and entered a diversion program.
The point isn’t to revisit every detail of something that happened almost a decade ago.
It’s to demonstrate how misleading the phrase “drunk driving” can be.
Neither situation fits the stereotypical image most people have when they hear DUI.
Can You Get a DUI With a 0.00 BAC?
Yes.
BAC stands for blood alcohol concentration.
It measures alcohol.
A 0.00 BAC means alcohol was not detected at a measurable level. It does not establish that a driver is free from the effects of another substance.
California law prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs. The DMV also specifically states that the law does not distinguish between illegal drugs and medications obtained from a doctor or pharmacy when those substances affect someone’s ability to drive safely.
This can include certain:
- Prescription pain medications
- Sleep medications
- Anxiety medications
- Allergy medications
- Cold medicines
- Other prescription or over-the-counter drugs
That does not mean taking one of these medications automatically makes someone guilty of DUI.
The issue is impairment.
“But My Doctor Prescribed It”
This is where people sometimes get confused.
A prescription establishes that you’re legally authorized to possess and use a medication according to your doctor’s instructions.
It does not create an automatic exemption from impaired-driving laws.
California DMV educational materials specifically state that a driver can be found under the influence when prescription or over-the-counter medication adversely affects driving.
Some medications carry warnings about driving or operating machinery for exactly this reason.
If you’re unsure how a medication may affect your ability to drive, that’s a conversation to have with your doctor or pharmacist.
What Would a Drug-Related DUI Mean in California?
Tiger Woods’ case occurred in Florida, so his charges, plea agreement, license suspension, and testing issues were governed by Florida law.
California drivers should not assume the same outcome would occur here.
California has specific laws and DMV procedures for drug-related DUI cases.
The DMV states that someone convicted of a drug-only DUI can face a suspension or revocation of driving privileges, with the length depending on the offense and prior DUI history.
There is also an important difference between drug-only and alcohol-related cases in how California handles certain administrative license actions.
That is another reason why simply saying “DUI is DUI” doesn’t tell the whole story.
Where Ignition Interlocks Fit In
This is especially important for us at Clear2Drive.
An ignition interlock device is an alcohol-detection device.
It measures alcohol in a driver’s breath.
It does not detect hydrocodone, prescription sleep medication, cannabis, or other drugs.
That distinction matters because ignition interlocks are incredibly effective at addressing the specific behavior they’re designed to prevent: driving after consuming alcohol.
But they’re not a universal impairment detector.
California’s current statewide IID program specifically applies mandatory IID requirements to qualifying DUI convictions involving alcohol or the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. California DMV materials distinguish those cases from drug-only offenses.
That doesn’t diminish the value of ignition interlocks.
It illustrates why DUI prevention cannot rely on a single solution.
Technology Has Limits
I’ve spent most of my adult life working with ignition interlock technology.
I believe in it.
I’ve seen what it can accomplish.
But I also think we have to be honest about what the technology does and doesn’t do.
An ignition interlock creates a barrier between alcohol consumption and starting a vehicle.
That’s incredibly valuable.
But if impairment comes from something other than alcohol, the device isn’t designed to identify it.
That is why education remains such an important part of DUI prevention.
Drivers need to understand not only alcohol and how it processes through the human body, but also that medications can affect their ability to safely operate a vehicle.
This Isn’t About Shaming Tiger Woods
There is another part of this story that matters to me.
After his March arrest, Woods announced that he was stepping away and seeking treatment. He said he needed to focus on his health and work toward lasting recovery.
I respect that.
One of the core values we built Clear2Drive around is Accountability Without Shame.
People make mistakes.
Sometimes those mistakes are serious.
Sometimes they happen more than once.
Accountability matters, especially when someone’s actions have the potential to hurt another person.
But humiliation doesn’t solve the problem.
If someone recognizes that something is wrong and seeks help, I would rather see the system support that effort than simply label that person for the rest of their life.
That applies whether the person is Tiger Woods or someone walking into one of our service centers.
Fame and Success Don’t Make Anyone Immune
Tiger Woods is one of the most accomplished athletes in history.
That doesn’t make him immune from health problems, medication issues, poor judgment, legal problems, or the same struggles experienced by millions of other people.
There’s something worth remembering in that.
DUI isn’t limited to a particular type of person.
I’ve met people from practically every walk of life during my 26 years in this industry.
Executives.
Construction workers.
Parents.
College students.
Retirees.
Teachers.
Business owners.
People who had never been arrested before.
A DUI doesn’t automatically tell you who somebody is.
It tells you something happened that needs to be taken seriously.
What happens afterward matters tremendously.
Prescription Medication and Driving Deserve More Attention
We spend an enormous amount of time educating people about drinking and driving.
That’s important.
But I think there is still a significant education gap surrounding prescription medication and driving.
People generally understand that several drinks can affect their ability to drive.
They may not think the same way about medication sitting in a bottle with their own name printed on the label.
“Prescription” can sound synonymous with “safe.”
It isn’t that simple.
A medication can be safe and appropriate for treating a medical condition while still affecting someone’s ability to safely operate a vehicle.
Those are two completely different questions.
Again, that determination belongs between patients and their medical professionals.
But drivers should at least know to ask the question.
What California Drivers Should Take From This Case
The lesson from Tiger Woods’ case isn’t that prescription medication is bad.
It isn’t that everyone taking pain medication shouldn’t drive.
And it certainly isn’t that we should diagnose someone’s medical condition based on a news story.
The lesson is much simpler.
Impaired driving is bigger than alcohol.
If you’re taking a medication that may affect your ability to drive, understand its effects before getting behind the wheel.
Read the warning label.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
And if you’re unsure whether you’re safe to drive, don’t guess.
Find another way home.
Second Chances Still Matter
I’ve spent decades working with people after DUI arrests, and I’ve never believed that one bad decision should automatically define the rest of someone’s life.
Clear2Drive was built around that philosophy.
Second chances matter.
But second chances work best when they’re accompanied by accountability.
If alcohol is the problem, technology like ignition interlocks can create an important safety barrier.
If medication, drugs, or another issue is involved, a different intervention may be necessary.
Sometimes the most important step is recognizing that help is needed.
Woods publicly said he was seeking treatment and working toward lasting recovery.
I hope that’s exactly what happens.
Final Thoughts From the Clear2Drive Team
Tiger Woods’ 2026 case attracted attention because he’s Tiger Woods.
But underneath the celebrity headline is a lesson that applies to every driver.
You do not need to have alcohol in your system to face an impaired-driving investigation.
You can have a 0.00 BAC.
You can be taking medication that was legally prescribed.
And you can still find yourself in a situation where law enforcement questions whether you were capable of driving safely.
For those of us in the ignition interlock industry, that’s an important reminder too.
The device we work with every day is an incredibly useful tool for preventing alcohol-impaired driving.
But DUI prevention is bigger than any device.
It requires technology, education, accountability, good information, and, when necessary, treatment.
Tiger Woods’ case happened in Florida.
But the lesson travels just fine to California.
Written by Dan Rhodes, Founder, Clear2Drive, 26-year ignition interlock industry veteran, Advisory council member.
Sources
GOLF.com
Associated Press
ESPN
California Department of Motor Vehicles
California Driver Handbook
California Vehicle Code
California DMV DUI Drug-Only Offenses Guidance