By JOHN BURNETT
By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Police are out in force this Memorial Day weekend hoping to deter potential tragedy on the Big Island’s roads.
There will be more than the usual complement of officers on duty, conducting DUI roadblocks and roving patrols now through Monday, Memorial Day, as part of a national and statewide campaign called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
“They’ll be coming in on overtime to conduct the checkpoints,” said Sgt. Robert Pauole, who heads the department’s Traffic Services Division. Pauole added that the overtime will be paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Driving under the influence of alcohol presents a potential danger to every motorist, passenger and pedestrian the driver encounters, Pauole said. Already this year, Big Island police have made well over 500 DUI arrests, and the official traffic death toll stands at 14, five more than at this time last year.
In addition to Memorial Day barbecues and beach parties, many graduation parties are scheduled for the weekend.
“Party hosts should, of course, ensure that they’re not providing alcohol to anyone under 21, and ensure that nobody drinks and drives after they leave their party. They can be held liable (in case of) an accident,” Pauole said. Pauole added that party hosts should collect car keys from guests before serving alcohol, as well. He suggested that if someone insists on driving home after imbibing at a party, a host can call police.
“We’re not authorized to take car keys to stop a driver, but we can let ’em know that if they do drive, they’ll be arrested for DUI,” he said.
The county’s Mass Transit Agency has a shared-ride taxi program. Anyone can buy subsidized taxi coupons for as low as $2 each and use them with participating taxi companies. For details, call 961-8744 or visit www.heleonbus.org/shared-ride-taxi-program.
“We always stress, if you are going to drink, get a taxi or a sober driver to assist you for that night. We suggest also to drink at home, so you don’t need to drive,” Pauole said.
Motorcyclists also take to the Big Island’s road in large numbers on Memorial Day weekend, and Pauole stressed that drivers should take extra caution to look out for them.
“Motorists are not aware of motorcyclists and motorcyclists are more prone to getting into accidents,” he said.
Pauole called Memorial Day weekend “one of the more dangerous weekends” of the year on island roads.
“To me, the three things that are gonna save your life (are): Don’t drink and drive; Don’t speed; And use your seat belt,” he said.
There was one traffic death on the Big Island last Memorial Day weekend. Ted Braxton, a 22-year-old University of Hawaii at Hilo performing arts student, was killed on Saturday, May 28, 2011, when the mo-ped he was riding was struck at the corner of Kinoole and Hualalai streets in Hilo by an armored van. Braxton wasn’t wearing a helmet. The van’s driver, Keolaokalani Kailianu of Hilo, then 41, fled the scene and Braxton was dragged about 100 feet. Emergency responders found him near the corner of Hualalai and Mauna Kea streets. Braxton’s mo-ped was still attached to the van’s undercarriage when Kailianu was arrested on Banyan Drive later that evening.
Kailianu, who had been drinking at Stephanie’s Lounge, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.283, more than three-and-a-half times the legal limit for intoxication, prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident and was sentenced in January to 10 years in prison.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.