MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of November 24, 2009, through November 30, 2009, Big Island police arrested 21 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,246 DUI arrests compared with 1,252 during the same period last year, an 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	5		420
Puna    	2		141
Ka'u    	0		44
Kona    	11		512
South Kohala	3		99
North Kohala	0		21

Island Total	21		1,246

There have been 1,399 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,606 during the same period last year, a decrease of 13.0 percent.

So far this year, there were 21 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 25 during the same period last year, a decrease of 16.0 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.