During the week of Aug. 19-25, Hawaii Island police arrested 21 motorists for DUI. Four of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. None were younger than 21.
The numbers of arrests by district were: Kona, eight; South Hilo, five; Puna, four; Hamakua and South Kohala, two each.
The 21 DUI arrests led to arrests for various other charges including four for open container of alcohol in vehicle, one for promoting a dangerous drug, one for driving after license suspended, seven for driving without license and eight for driving without insurance. In addition, there were three arrests for other related moving and/or regulatory violations.
So far this year, there have been 734 DUI arrests compared to 729 during the same period last year, an increase of 0.7 percent.
There have been 611 major accidents so far this year compared to 814 during the same period last year, a decrease of 25 percent.
To date there have been 14 official traffic fatalities.
There have also been two road-related fatalities police don’t count toward the yearly total because one was ruled caused by a medical condition and the other occurred within the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There were 20 official traffic fatalities at the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 30 percent for official traffic fatalities.
DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide, police said.