MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 15, 2010, through March 21, 2010, Big Island police arrested 30 motorists for drunk driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 351 DUI arrests compared with 289 during the same period last year, an increase of 21.5 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	7		102
Puna    	0		32
Ka'Å«    	5		17
Kona    	17		159
South Kohala	1		35
North Kohala	0		2

Island Total	30		351

There have been 296 major accidents so far this year compared with 379 during the same period last year, a decrease of 21.9 percent.

So far this year, there were eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with five during the same period last year, an increase of 60 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.