MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of January 25, 2010, through January 31, 2010, Big Island police arrested 28 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 149 (revised) DUI arrests compared with 98 during the same period last year, an increase of 52 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmāku a	1		1
North Hilo	0		0
South Hilo	7		41
Puna    	3		15
Ka‘ū    	1		4
Kona    	14		74
South Kohala	2		12
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	28		149

There have been 87 major accidents so far this year compared with 143 during the same period last year, a decrease of 39.1 percent.

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

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.