MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of August 29, 2011, through September 4, 2011, Big Island police arrested 40 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes.

So far this year, there have been 997 DUI arrests compared with 1,041 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	1       	5
North Hilo	0       	1
South Hilo	13      	393
Puna    	4       	128
Ka'Å«    	0       	12
Kona    	20      	414
South Kohala	2       	43
North Kohala	0       	1
Island Total:	40      	997

There have been 932 major accidents so far this year compared with 942 during the same period last year, a decrease of of 1.1 percent.

So far this year, there were 15 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 20 during the same period last year, a decrease of 25 percent.

To date, 10 fatalities this year were related to drugs only (3), alcohol only (3), or a combination of both (4).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.