MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of May 30, 2011, through June 5, 2011, Big Island police arrested 26 motorists for drunk driving. Eight of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 633 DUI arrests compared with 663 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.5 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	0		1
South Hilo	15		247
Puna    	2		77
Ka'Å«    	0		8
Kona    	9		267
South Kohala	0		28
North Kohala	0		1

Island Total	26		633

There have been 575 major accidents so far this year compared with 596 during the same period last year, a decrease of of 3.5 percent.

So far this year, there were 10 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 17 fatalities during the same period last year, a decrease of 41.2 percent.

To date, six fatalities this year were related to drugs only (2), alcohol only (2), or a combination of both (2 of the 10).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.