MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 1, 2012, through October 7, 2012, Big Island police arrested 31 motorists for drunk driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,093 DUI arrests compared with 1,126 during the same period last year, a decrease of 2.9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	1		11	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	17		409	
Puna    	1		129	
Ka’ū    	0		21	
Kona    	12		451	
South Kohala	0		62	
North Kohala	0		8	
Island Total:	31		1,093

There have been 1,114 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,059 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.2 percent.

So far this year, there were 30 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 16 during the same period last year, an increase of 87.5 percent.

To date, 15 fatalities were related to drugs (6), alcohol (3), or a combination of both (6).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.