MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of May 2, 2011, through May 8, 2011, Big Island police arrested 52 motorists for drunk driving. Eight of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 520 DUI arrests compared with 552 during the same period last year, a decrease of 5.8 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		3
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	18		193
Puna    	5		67
Ka'Å«    	0		7
Kona    	28		222
South Kohala	1		26
North Kohala	0		1

Island Total	52		520

There have been 486 major accidents so far this year compared with 499 during the same period last year, a decrease of of 2.6 percent.

So far this year, there were eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 10 fatalities during the same period last year, a decrease of 20 percent.

To date, four fatalities this year were related to drugs only (2), alcohol only (1) or a combination of both (1 of the 8).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.