MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of May 21, 2012, through May 27, 2012, Big Island police arrested 29 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 587 DUI arrests compared with 601 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.3 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	0		2
South Hilo	11		208
Puna    	6		75
Ka’ū    	1		15
Kona    	8		239
South Kohala	3		40
North Kohala	0		4
Island Total:	29		587

There have been 593 major accidents so far this year compared with 560 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.9 percent.

So far this year, there were 14 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with nine during the same period last year, an increase of 55.6 percent.

To date, five fatalities were related to drugs (4), alcohol (1), or a combination of both (0).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.