The law in Ohio provides for limited driving privileges when you are under a suspension for a DUI. You are eligible for privileges after any hard suspension time.
Once eligible, you can get privileges for the following reasons: Occupational, Educational, Medical, and Vocational.
Part 4 of this blog series is devoted to clients who ask about whether they can get privileges for vocational reasons. Privileges are given at the discretion of the Judge and there is no right to them. Privileges for vocational reasons will be granted on a case by case basis.
First though, we need to analyze what they are since this is a grey area in most Judges’ minds.
Black’s Law dictionary defines “vocation” as a person’s calling, business, occupation, or profession. This does not give much guidance since we already know we can get privileges for occupational reasons.
Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines “vocational” as training in a skill or trade to be pursued as a career. They define “vocation” as a divine call to the religious life, the work in which a person is employed, or a particular occupation.
This still does not help us fully understand what vocational privileges are more than something between a job, training for a job, and a calling wherein the person devotes time to something that does not necessarily result in income.
My common advice to people is that it can be used for things that you do other than your job that is a benefit to the community. Say for instance, volunteering at your local hospital, coaching, job training, etc.
As with all privileges, they are discretionary. The more a Judge finds the idea a benefit to other people, the more likely that they will be granted. Understand that the more you stray from the common privileges for your job, school, and medical necessity, the less likely they are to be granted.
And remember, if you or a family member has been arrested for DUI in the Columbus Area – give our office a call at 614-827-2000….24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Because now is the perfect time to put a team that includes a former police officer and a former prosecutor to work….for you!
