MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of December 2, 2008, through December 8, 2008, Big Island police arrested 43 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in a traffic crash. Five were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,305 DUI arrests compared with 1,280 during the same period last year, an increase of 2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hamakua	        0		13
North Hilo	0		4
South Hilo	12		440
Puna	        10		124
Ka‘u	        1		28
Kona	        14		568
South Kohala	6		103
North Kohala	0		25

Island Total	43		1,305

There have been 1,623 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,990 during the same period last year, a decrease of 18 percent.

So far this year, there have been 26 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 35 during the same period last year, a decrease of 26 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.