An OVI can significantly impact an individual's employment

Every Ohio resident's life would sustain some form of repercussions from a conviction for drunk driving. Even so, for some people who work in certain professions, those penalties are even harsher. For instance, a police officer charged with OVI, or operating a vehicle while impaired, may not even make it to court before losing his or her job or being suspended for an indefinite amount of time.

Some officers, such as one recently in the news, may get the chance to resign before being terminated. Colleagues arrested the 27-year-old former police officer on Jan. 27 on suspicion of drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Even though they were simply upholding the law, the chief of police in that city still felt the need to justify his department's actions in arresting the officer.

The chief reiterated that the Toledo Police Department holds his officers to the highest possible standards, and misconduct will not be tolerated. Officers are treated like anyone else. However, in this particular profession, that treatment could mean never working in the field again.

For any Ohio resident who works in a field where an OVI could affect the future of his or her career, it would be beneficial to address the situation immediately. A criminal defense attorney well-versed in this area of law could prove invaluable under the circumstances. A conviction is not a foregone conclusion, and no one should be given the impression that it is. The law allows every individual the same rights, regardless of his or her profession, and everyone should take advantage of those rights when facing criminal charges.