MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of November 5, 2012, through November 11, 2012, Big Island police arrested 37 motorists for drunk driving. Six of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. One was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,272 DUI arrests compared with 1,273 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.1 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		16	
North Hilo	1		3	
South Hilo	10		488	
Puna    	8		152	
Ka’ū    	1		24	
Kona    	14		510	
South Kohala	3		70	
North Kohala	0		9	
Island Total:	37		1,272

There have been 1,260 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,199 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.1 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.