Police arrest 9 for DUI

During the week of Nov. 25-Dec. 1, Hawaii Island police arrested nine motorists for DUI. None of the drivers was involved in a traffic accident. One of the drivers was younger than 21.

The numbers of arrests by district were: Kona, four; Puna and Ka‘u, two each; and South Hilo, one.

So far this year, there have been 987 DUI arrests compared to 993 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.6 percent.

There have been 895 major accidents so far this year compared to 1,062 during the same period last year, a decrease of 15.7 percent.

To date, there have been 23 official traffic fatalities, compared to 28 fatalities at the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 17.9 percent for fatalities.

There have also been three road-related deaths on the Big Island this year police don’t count toward the official traffic fatality total — one because an autopsy found the driver died of a medical condition, a second because an autopsy found the driver died of natural causes and a third because the collision occurred in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is not in Hawaii Police Department jurisdiction.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide, police said.