MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of September 1, 2009, through September 7, 2009, Big Island police arrested 23 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 938 DUI arrests compared with 950 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.3 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	8		298
Puna    	2		111
Ka‘u    	0		35
Kona    	12		397
South Kohala	1		73
North Kohala	0		19

Island Total  23	    938

There have been 1,082 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,233 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.2 percent.

So far this year, there were 19 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 19 during the same period last year.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.