MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of February 3, 2009, through February 9, 2009, Big Island police arrested 32 motorists for drunk driving. Nine of the drivers were involved in a traffic crash. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 131 DUI arrests compared with 139 during the same period last year, a decrease of 6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hamakua	         0		 0
North Hilo	 0		 0
South Hilo	10		23
Puna	         3		23
Ka'u	         1		 6
Kona	        13		65
South Kohala	 2		11
North Kohala	 3		 3

Island Total	32	       131

There have been 167 major accidents so far this year compared with 213 during the same period last year, a decrease of 36 percent.

So far this year, there were five traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with four during the same period last year, an increase of 25 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.