MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of November 10, 2009, through November 16, 2009, Big Island police arrested 18 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,189 DUI arrests compared with 1,198 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.8 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	0		5
South Hilo	7		409
Puna    	1		137
Ka‘u    	1		43
Kona    	8		479
South Kohala	1		92
North Kohala	0		20

Island Total	18		1,189

There have been 1,361 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,540 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.6 percent.

So far this year, there were 20 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 24 during the same period last year, a decrease of 16.7 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.