MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 5, 2012, through March 11, 2012, Big Island police arrested 31 motorists for drunk driving. Nine of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two of the drivers were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 281 DUI arrests compared with 274 during the same period last year, an increase of 2.6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		3	
North Hilo	0		0	
South Hilo	14		111	
Puna    	5		37	
Ka’ū    	0		6	
Kona    	11		103	
South Kohala	1		19	
North Kohala	0		2	
Island Total:	31		281

There have been 293 major accidents so far this year compared with 274 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.9 percent.

So far this year, there were seven traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with six during the same period last year, an increase of 16.7 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.