HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT RANDY APELE
PHONE: 961-2305
JANUARY 5, 2001

Big Island police last year arrested 1,081 motorists for drunk driving.

This represents a decrease from the record 1,207 motorists arrested for drunk driving in 1999 and a 2 percent increase over the 1,056 arrested in 1998.

According to Sergeant Randy Apele of the Traffic Services Section, a total of 168 of the 1,081 drunk drivers nabbed last year were arrested after they had been involved in accidents. This compares with 219 drivers arrested for DUI after being involved in accidents during 1999.

Also, 152 of the motorists arrested for drunk driving last year were younger than 21.

Police recorded 38 traffic fatalities in 2000, compared to 31 fatalities recorded in 1999 -- an increase of 23 percent.

The number of fatalities related to drunk driving last year decreased by one, however, from 13 in 1999 to 12 last year, a decrease of 8 percent.

Apele noted that of the drivers arrested for driving under the influence last year, 251 were also arrested for having no driver’s license and 57 for driving while their license was suspended.

“This means that many of those we have arrested for DUI have been arrested previously for drunk driving and have had their licenses taken away,” Apele said. “Unfortunately, they are still endangering lives by driving while intoxicated.”

Apele said police are continuing their efforts to crack down on drunk drivers in order to save lives.

A breakdown of last year’s DUI arrests, by police district, shows that Kona had 308 DUI arrests; South Hilo, 280; Puna, 269; South Kohala, 123; Hamakua, 34; Ka’u, 32; North Kohala, 21; and North Hilo, 14.