HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SERVICES SECTION
SERGEANT DEXTER VERIATO
PHONE: 961-2305
JANUARY 5, 2004
MEDIA RELEASE
Big Island police made 1,085 drunk driving arrests last year, an increase of 0.8 percent over the 1,076 arrested in 2003, according to statistics released by the Traffic Services Section.
Of the drivers arrested for DUI last year, 161 been involved in traffic crashes, and 137 had been under the age of 21.
The numbers of arrests by district were:
| District | Year Total |
|---|---|
| Hamakua | 14 |
| North Hilo | 6 |
| South Hilo | 287 |
| Puna | 166 |
| Ka’u | 13 |
| Kona | 508 |
| South Kohala | 67 |
| North Kohala | 24 |
| Island Total | 1,085 |
There were 2,477 major accidents last year, compared to 2,362 during the same period in 2003, an increase of 5 percent.
There were 41 traffic fatalities on the Big Island last year, compared to 35 the year before, an increase of 17 percent. There were 10 fatalities attributed to drunk driving last year, compared to 11 in 2003, a decrease of 9 percent. There were 14 drug-related fatalities last year, compared to 13 in 2003, an increase of 8 percent.
Police said the actual counts of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities may increase slightly after pending reports are completed.
The number of fatal crashes rose slightly last year — 33 compared to 32 the year before — for an increase of 3 percent.
Last year, six of the victims were younger than 21, compared to two in 2003 — an increase of 200 percent.
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