MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of November 3, 2009, through November 9, 2009, Big Island police arrested 24 motorists for drunk driving. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,170 DUI arrests compared with 1,176 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		5
South Hilo	11		402
Puna    	3		136
Ka'u    	0		42
Kona    	8		470
South Kohala	1		91
North Kohala	1		20

Island Total	24		1,170

There have been 1,328 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,506 during the same period last year, a decrease of 11.8 percent.

So far this year, there were 20 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 23 during the same period last year, a decrease of 13 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.