HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT RANDY K. APELE
PHONE: 961-2305
JUNE 15, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of June 7-June 14, 2004, Big Island police arrested 20 motorists for drunk driving. Two of the drivers were involved in traffic collisions, and four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 474 DUI arrests, compared to 412 during the same period last year, an increase of 15 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District	Weekly Total	Year to Date
Hamakua North Hilo South Hilo Puna Ka’u Kona South Kohala North Kohala	0 0 4 3 0 11 1 1	8 4 135 61 6 222 29 9
Island Total	20	474

There have been 1,140 major accidents so far this year, compared to 992 during the same period last year, an increase of 15 percent.

There have been 20 traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 14 for the same period last year, an increase of 43 percent. There has been two fatalities attributed to drunk driving so far this year, compared to four at this time last year, a decrease of 50 percent. There have been four drug-related fatalities so far this year, compared to two fatalities at the same time last year, an increase of 100 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will be continued on an islandwide basis.

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