MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 19, 2012, through March 25, 2012, Big Island police arrested 33 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 341 DUI arrests compared with 326 during the same period last year, an increase of 4.6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		3	
North Hilo	0		0	
South Hilo	10		125	
Puna    	5		46	
Ka’ū    	0		6	
Kona    	16		134	
South Kohala	1		24	
North Kohala	1		3	
Island Total:	33		341

There have been 349 major accidents so far this year compared with 322 during the same period last year, an increase of 8.4 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.

To date, two fatalities were related to drugs only (2), alcohol only (0), or a combination of both (0).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.