MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of July 4, 2011, through July 10, 2011, Big Island police arrested 27 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 756 DUI arrests compared with 797 during the same period last year, a decrease of 5.1 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	17		304
Puna    	3		87
Ka'Å«    	0		8
Kona    	6		317
South Kohala	1		34
North Kohala	0		1

Island Total	27		756

There have been 699 major accidents so far this year compared with 715 during the same period last year, a decrease of of 2.2 percent.

So far this year, there were 11 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 18 during the same period last year, a decrease of 38.9 percent.

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

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.