Florida drops reckless driving charge against Puig

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig will still have to pay a speeding ticket for pushing his Mercedes to 110 miles an hour in a 70 mph zone in Alligator Alley. But the Florida state's attorney has decided there are not enough grounds to prosecute Puig for willful and wanton reckless driving, a charge for which he was arrested in December. From the local paper in Collier County, the News-Press:

Puig was not weaving in and out of traffic, he did not lose control of his vehicle, he didn’t cause other motorists to brake or make evasive maneuvers, and he was sober and had a valid Florida driver’s license, according to a memorandum released by the state attorney’s office.

To prove reckless driving, the state must prove the defendant drove with a willful or wanton disregard for people or property, according to the memorandum. Speeding alone is not grounds for a reckless driving charge.

Puig has since hired his cousin to drive for him. Puig has now been arrested twice for his driving. The first charge, in Tennessee, was also dropped.