MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of September 22, 2009, through September 28, 2009, Big Island police arrested 24 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,002 DUI arrests compared with 1,015 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.3 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District    Weekly Total   Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		3
North Hilo	1		4
South Hilo	14		332
Puna    	1		116
Ka'u    	0		36
Kona    	7		416
South Kohala	1		76
North Kohala	0		19

Island Total  24	    1,002

There have been 1,149 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,322 during the same period last year, a decrease of 13.1 percent.

So far this year, there were 19 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 19 during the same period last year.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.