MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of December 13, 2010, through December 19, 2010, Big Island police arrested 33 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,477 DUI arrests compared with 1,342 during the same period last year, an increase of 10.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		9
North Hilo	0		3
South Hilo	14		538
Puna    	6		188
Ka'Å«    	1		52
Kona    	11		591
South Kohala	1		87
North Kohala	0		9

Island Total	33		1,477

There have been 1,370 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,493 during the same period last year, a decrease of 8.2 percent.

So far this year, there were 27 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 22 during the same period last year, an increase of 22.7 percent.

To date, 16 fatalities this year were related to drugs only (4), alcohol only (3) or a combination of both (9 of the 16).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.