MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of December 19, 2011, through December 25, 2011, Big Island police arrested 17 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes.

So far this year, there have been 1,422 DUI arrests compared with 1,495 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District        Weekly Total         Year to Date
Hāmākua                0                  8
North Hilo             0                  2
South Hilo             5                580
Puna                   3                189
Ka‘ū                   0                 22
Kona                   9                556
South Kohala           0                 62
North Kohala           0                  3
Island Total:         17              1,422

There have been 1,372 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,423 during the same period last year, a decrease of 3.6 percent.

So far this year, there were 23 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 27 during the same period last year, a decrease of 14.8 percent.

To date, 14 fatalities this year were related to drugs only (4), alcohol only (5), or a combination of both (5).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.