MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 22, 2012, through October 28, 2012, Big Island police arrested 36 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,206 DUI arrests compared with 1,225 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 	1		15	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	12		467	
Puna    	3		141	
Ka’ū    	2		23	
Kona    	16		484	
South Kohala	1		65	
North Kohala	1		9	
Island Total:	36		1,206

There have been 1,203 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,149 during the same period last year, an increase of 4.7 percent.

So far this year, there were 35 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 18 during the same period last year, an increase of 94.4 percent.

To date, 23 fatalities were related to drugs (9), alcohol (4), or a combination of both (10).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.