MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of August 13, 2012, through August 19, 2012, Big Island police arrested 38 motorists for drunk driving. Nine of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 884 DUI arrests compared with 904 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.2 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	2		8	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	18		314	
Puna    	3		115	
Ka’ū    	0		18	
Kona    	12		368	
South Kohala	2		53	
North Kohala	1		6	
Island Total:	38		884

There have been 923 major accidents so far this year compared with 869 during the same period last year, an increase of 6.2 percent.

So far this year, there were 24 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 15 during the same period last year, an increase of 60 percent.

To date, 12 fatalities were related to drugs (5), alcohol (1), or a combination of both (6).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.