MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of July 2, 2012, through July 8, 2012, Big Island police arrested 28 motorists for drunk driving. Ten of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 726 DUI arrests compared with 749 during the same period last year, a decrease of 3.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		6	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	7		247	
Puna    	2		96	
Ka’ū    	0		15	
Kona    	17		310	
South Kohala	2		45	
North Kohala	0		5	
Island Total:	28		726

There have been 756 major accidents so far this year compared with 707 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.9 percent.

So far this year, there were 14 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 12 during the same period last year, an increase of 16.7 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.