MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of December 8, 2009, through December 14, 2009, Big Island police arrested 28 motorists for drunk driving. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes. Three were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,298 DUI arrests compared with 1,309 during the same period last year, an decrease of 0.8 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hāmākua 	0		4
North Hilo	0		5
South Hilo	10		440
Puna    	4		147
Ka'u    	3		47
Kona    	8		531
South Kohala	3		102
North Kohala	0		22

Island Total	28		1,298

There have been 1,454 major accidents so far this year compared with 1,668 during the same period last year, a decrease of 12.8 percent.

So far this year, there were 22 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 27 during the same period last year, a decrease of 18.5 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.