MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 1, 2010, through March 7, 2010, Big Island police arrested 23 motorists for drunk driving. Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Five were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 294 DUI arrests compared with 235 during the same period last year, an increase of 25.1 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	6		88
Puna    	2		31
Ka'Å«    	0		11
Kona    	14		128
South Kohala	1		30
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	23		294

There have been 247 major accidents so far this year compared with 313 during the same period last year, a decrease of 21.1 percent.

So far this year, there were eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with four during the same period last year, an increase of 100 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.