Hawaii Police Department
Traffic Services Section
Sergeant Dexter Veriato
Phone: 961-2305
December 28, 2007

Media Release

During the week of December 18, 2007, through December 24, 2007, Big Island police arrested 47 motorists for drunk driving. Fourteen of the drivers were involved in a traffic crash. Seven were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 1,373 DUI arrests compared with 1,257 during the same period last year, an increase of 9 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

**DUI Arrests by District**
District	Weekly Total	Year to Date

Hamakua	0	10
North Hilo	1	2
South Hilo	20	450
Puna	1	128
Ka’u	1	45
Kona	19	635
South Kohala	4	77
North Kohala	1	26

Island Total	47	1,373

There have been 2,113 major accidents so far this year compared with 2,415 during the same period last year, a decrease of 13 percent.

So far this year, there have been 37 traffic fatalities on the Big Island compared with 33 during the same period last year, an increase of 12 percent.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island wide.