MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 20, 2009, through October 26, 2009, Big Island police arrested 43 motorists for drunk driving. Ten of the drivers were involved in a traffic crash. Two of the drivers were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,124 DUI arrests compared with 1,130 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.5 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	0		4
South Hilo	17		383
Puna    	2		128
Ka'u    	4		42
Kona    	14		456
South Kohala	6		88
North Kohala	0		19

Island Total	43		1,124

There have been 1,279 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,455 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.1 percent.

So far this year, there were 19 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 22 during the same period last year, a decrease of 13.6 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.