MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of February 22, 2010, through February 28, 2010, Big Island police arrested 30 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 271 DUI arrests compared with 199 during the same period last year, an increase of 36.2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		3
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	8		82
Puna    	4		29
Ka‘ū    	3		11
Kona    	13		114
South Kohala	2		29
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	30		271

There have been 212 major accidents so far this year compared with 282 during the same period last year, a decrease of 24.8 percent.

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

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.