MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of August 4, 2009, through August 10, 2009, Big Island police arrested 21 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 840 DUI arrests compared with 853 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.5 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	9		266
Puna    	2		104
Ka'u    	0		30
Kona    	9		350
South Kohala	0		67
North Kohala	1		18

Island Total	21		840

There have been 936 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,094 during the same period last year, a decrease of 14.4 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.