MEDIA RELEASE (Revised 02/16/10)

During the week of February 1, 2010, through February 7, 2010, Big Island police arrested 35  motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 183 (revised figure) DUI arrests compared with 129 during the same period last year, an increase of 41 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		1
North Hilo	1		1
South Hilo	15		56
Puna	        3	        17
Ka'Å«    	2		6
Kona    	7		81
South Kohala    7	        19
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total    35              183

There have been 113 major accidents so far this year compared with 179 during the same period last year, a decrease of 36.9 percent.

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

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.