MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of June 11, 2012, through June 17, 2012, Big Island police arrested 16 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 646 DUI arrests compared with 675 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.3 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		5	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	7		225	
Puna    	1		83	
Ka’ū    	0		15	
Kona    	8		270	
South Kohala	0		41	
North Kohala	0		5	
Island Total:	16		646

There have been 676 major accidents so far this year compared with 636 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.3 percent.

So far this year, there were 14 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 11 during the same period last year, an increase of 27.3 percent.

To date, 11 fatalities were related to drugs (6), alcohol (3), or a combination of both (2).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.