MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of August 25, 2014, through August 31, 2014, Hawaiʻi Island police arrested 21 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 793 DUI arrests compared with 851 during the same period last year, a decrease of 6.8 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	2		7	
North Hilo	0		3	
South Hilo	6		252	
Puna    	6		124	
Ka’ū    	0		16	
Kona    	6		288	
South Kohala	1		96	
North Kohala	0		7	
Island Total	21		793

There have been 1,044 major accidents so far this year compared with 915 during the same period last year, an increase of 14.1 percent.

So far this year, there have been nine traffic fatalities on Hawaiʻi Island compared with 21 during the same period last year, a decrease of 57.1 percent.

To date, six fatalities were related to drugs (3), alcohol (0), or a combination of both (3).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.