MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 27, 2009, through November 2, 2009, Big Island police arrested 21 motorists for drunk driving. Nine of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,145 DUI arrests compared with 1,152 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	1		5
South Hilo	7		390
Puna    	5		133
Ka‘u    	0		42
Kona    	6		462
South Kohala	2		90
North Kohala	0		19

Island Total	21		1,145

There have been 1,298 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,477 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.1 percent.

So far this year, there were 20 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 22 during the same period last year, a decrease of 9.1 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.