MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of May 23, 2011, through May 29, 2011, Big Island police arrested 25 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 607 DUI arrests compared with 640 during the same period last year, a decrease of 5.2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	1		4
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	14		232
Puna    	2		75
Ka'Å«    	0		8
Kona    	8		258
South Kohala	0		28
North Kohala	0		1

Island Total	25		607

There have been 558 major accidents so far this year compared with 571 during the same period last year, a decrease of of 2.3 percent.

So far this year, there were 10 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 14 fatalities during the same period last year, a decrease of 28.6 percent.

To date, six fatalities this year were related to drugs only (2), alcohol only (2), or a combination of both (2 of the 10).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.