Brunswick DUI Drugs Attorney

A DUI charge does not require alcohol. In Georgia, a person can be arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, illegal narcotics, or any combination of substances. If you or a family member was charged with DUI drugs in Brunswick or anywhere in Glynn County, the team at the office of Jarrett Maillet J.D., PC is ready to help. Contact our Brunswick DUI Drugs defense attorney today for a fully confidential, no-obligation case review.

How Georgia Law Treats DUI Drug Charges

Georgia’s DUI statute, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391, covers a wide range of impaired driving situations beyond alcohol. Under subsection (a)(2), it is unlawful for any person to drive or be in actual physical control of a moving vehicle while under the influence of any drug to the extent that it makes them a less safe driver. Under subsection (a)(6), the statute goes further and creates a per se drug DUI: it is unlawful to drive when there is any amount of marijuana or a controlled substance present in the person’s blood or urine, including metabolites and derivatives, regardless of whether the driver feels impaired.

That last provision is significant. A driver who used marijuana days before getting behind the wheel may still have detectable THC metabolites in their system. Under the per se provision, the presence of those metabolites alone can support a charge, even if the driver shows no signs of impairment at the time of the stop. The same logic applies to prescription medications. If a controlled substance or its metabolites are detected in a blood or urine test, a charge can follow even when the driver was taking medication exactly as a physician prescribed.

Georgia does not set a per se impairment threshold for most drugs the way it does for alcohol. This means drug-related DUI cases are frequently prosecuted as less safe DUI charges under subsection (a)(2), where the State focuses on whether the substance rendered the driver unsafe, rather than simply measuring a number. As a result, these cases rely heavily on officer observations, field sobriety test performance, and drug recognition evaluations, all of which can be challenged.

DUI Drug Enforcement in the Brunswick Area

Brunswick sits at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the broader Golden Isles region, making it a significant corridor for both local and traveling traffic. Law enforcement along this stretch regularly patrols for signs of impaired driving. The Glynn County Superior Court at 701 H Street handles felony-level DUI drug matters, while misdemeanor charges move through the Glynn County State Court.

How Attorney Jarrett Maillet Defends DUI Drug Cases

DUI drug cases involve unique evidentiary challenges that differ from alcohol DUI prosecutions. Chemical testing for drugs often requires blood or urine collection rather than a simple breath test, and the collection, handling, and analysis of those samples must comply with strict protocols. Errors in any part of that chain, from the officer’s initial decision to request testing to the lab’s analysis procedures, can undermine the prosecution’s evidence. Attorney Maillet examines every link in that chain, and also challenges the validity of any field sobriety evaluations or drug recognition examination conducted during the stop. If the traffic stop itself lacked probable cause, all evidence gathered afterward may be subject to suppression.

Frequently Asked Questions About DUI Drug Charges in Brunswick

Can I be charged with DUI for taking a legally prescribed medication?

Yes. Georgia law does not create an exception for prescription drugs. If a controlled substance or its metabolites appear in your blood or urine, you can be charged under the per se provision of O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391(a)(6) regardless of whether you had a valid prescription. You can also face a less safe DUI charge if an officer concludes that the medication impaired your ability to drive safely. The legitimacy of the prescription is not a complete defense in Georgia.

Is a DUI drug conviction treated differently from an alcohol DUI in terms of license suspension?

There is one important distinction. Georgia law does not allow a person convicted of DUI drugs to obtain a limited work permit during a license suspension period that follows conviction. Under standard alcohol DUI rules, a first-time offender may be eligible for a limited permit during part of the suspension. That option is not available for drug DUI convictions, making it even more critical to fight the charge before a conviction is entered.

What should I do immediately after a DUI drug arrest in Brunswick?

Exercise your right to remain silent and ask to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Do not volunteer information about medications you take, substances you may have used, or when you last used them. Statements made during a DUI investigation are routinely used as evidence at trial. Contact a Brunswick DUI Drugs defense attorney right away so that the 30-day administrative license hearing window and other critical deadlines are not missed.

Contact Our Brunswick DUI Drugs Defense Lawyer Today

At Jarrett Maillet J.D., P.C., our Brunswick DUI drugs defense attorney is ready to put real legal experience to work for you. Call our office at 912-713-3426 or reach out online to arrange a strictly confidential, no-obligation case evaluation. We defend DUI drug charges in Brunswick, Glynn County, and throughout coastal Georgia.