MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of December 27, 2010, through December 31, 2010, Big Island police arrested 16 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

In 2010, there were 1,513 DUI arrests compared with 1,395 in 2009, an increase of 8.5 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		9
North Hilo	0		3
South Hilo	5		553
Puna    	3		196
Ka'Å«    	0		52
Kona    	8		603
South Kohala	0		88
North Kohala	0		9

Island Total	16		1,513

There were 1,430 major accidents in 2010 compared with 1,538 in 2009, a decrease of 7.0 percent.

In 2010, there were 28 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 22 in 2009, an increase of 27.3 percent.

To date, 17 fatalities in 2010 were related to drugs only (4), alcohol only (3) or a combination of both (10 of the 17).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.