MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 15, 2012, through October 21, 2012, Big Island police arrested 47 motorists for drunk driving. Nine of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,170 DUI arrests compared with 1,189 during the same period last year, a decrease of 1.6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	2		14	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	27		455	
Puna    	6		138	
Ka’ū    	0		21	
Kona    	12		468	
South Kohala	0		64	
North Kohala	0		8	
Island Total:	47		1,170

There have been 1,172 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,113 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.3 percent.

So far this year, there were 35 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 16 during the same period last year, an increase of 118.8 percent.

To date, 22 fatalities were related to drugs (8), alcohol (4), or a combination of both (10).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.