MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of October 29, 2012, through November 4, 2012, Big Island police arrested 28 motorists for drunk driving. Four of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Two were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,234 DUI arrests compared with 1,245 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	1		16	
North Hilo	0		2	
South Hilo	11		478	
Puna    	3		144	
Ka’ū    	0		23	
Kona    	12		496	
South Kohala	1		66	
North Kohala	0		9	
Island Total:	28		1,234

There have been 1,230 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,165 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.6 percent.

So far this year, there were 36 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 18 during the same period last year, an increase of 100 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.