MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of September 1, 2014, through September 7, 2014, Hawaiʻi Island police arrested 16 motorists for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 809 DUI arrests compared with 878 during the same period last year, a decrease of 7.9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	1		8	
North Hilo	0		3	
South Hilo	7		259	
Puna    	2		126	
Ka’ū    	0		16	
Kona    	6		294	
South Kohala	0		96	
North Kohala	0		7	
Island Total	16		809

There have been 1,073 major accidents so far this year compared with 943 during the same period last year, an increase of 13.8 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.