MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of July 23, 2012, through July 29, 2012, Big Island police arrested 19 motorists for drunk driving. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 784 DUI arrests compared with 826 during the same period last year, a decrease of 5.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		6	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	8		266	
Puna    	3		104	
Ka‘ū    	1		17	
Kona    	6		334	
South Kohala	1		50	
North Kohala	0		5	
Island Total:	19		784

There have been 831 major accidents so far this year compared with 781 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.4 percent.

So far this year, there were 21 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 15 during the same period last year, an increase of 40 percent.

To date, 11 fatalities were related to drugs (5), alcohol (0), or a combination of both (6).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.