MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of September 6, 2010, through September 12, 2010, Big Island police arrested 34 motorists for drunk driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Five were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,077 DUI arrests compared with 959 during the same period last year, an increase of 12.3 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		7
North Hilo	0		3
South Hilo	11		375
Puna    	8		123
Ka‘ū    	1		43
Kona    	12		443
South Kohala	1		74
North Kohala	1		9

Island Total	34		1,077

There have been 952 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,114 during the same period last year, a decrease of 14.5 percent.

So far this year, there were 20 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 19 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.3 percent.

To date, 18 fatalities this year were related to drugs (10), alcohol (8) or a combination of both (5 of the 18).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.