MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of July 7, 2009, through July 13, 2009, Big Island police arrested 19 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 746 DUI arrests compared with 730 during the same period last year, an increase of 2.2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District      Weekly Total  Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		3
North Hilo	0		2
South Hilo	7		226
Puna    	2		86
Ka'u    	1		26
Kona    	6		324
South Kohala	3		63
North Kohala	0		16

Island Total  19	    746

There have been 844 major accidents so far this year compared with 958 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.9 percent.

So far this year, there were 13 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 14 during the same period last year, a decrease of 7.1 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.