MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 12, 2012, through March 18, 2012, Big Island police arrested 27 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 308 DUI arrests compared with 296 during the same period last year, an increase of 4.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		3	
North Hilo	0		0	
South Hilo	4		115	
Puna    	4		41	
Ka’ū    	0		6	
Kona    	15		118	
South Kohala	4		23	
North Kohala	0		2	
Island Total:	27		308

There have been 323 major accidents so far this year compared with 300 during the same period last year, an increase of 7.7 percent.

So far this year, there were seven traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with six during the same period last year, an increase of 16.7 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.