MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of November 26, 2012, through December 2, 2012, Hawaiʻi Island police arrested 26 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 1,361 DUI arrests compared with 1,340 during the same period last year, an increase of 1.6 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hāmākua 	0		17	
North Hilo	0		3	
South Hilo	17		535	
Puna    	0		155	
Ka’ū    	0		24	
Kona    	6		541	
South Kohala	2		74	
North Kohala	1		12	
Island Total:	26		1,361

There have been 1,337 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,268 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.4 percent.

So far this year, there were 37 traffic fatalities on Hawaiʻi Island compared with 19 during the same period last year, an increase of 94.7 percent.

To date, 28 fatalities were related to drugs (12), alcohol (4), or a combination of both (12).

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.