Police arrest 17 for DUI

During the week of June 5-11, Hawaii Island police arrested 17 motorists for DUI. Six of the drivers were involved in a traffic accident. Two of the drivers were under the age of 21.

The numbers of arrests by district were: Puna and Kona, six each; South Hilo, three; and Hamakua, two.

So far this year, there have been 525 DUI arrests compared to 499 during the same period last year, an increase of 5.2 percent.

There have been 632 major accidents so far this year compared to 663 during the same period last year, a decrease of 4.7 percent.

To date, there have been 20 official traffic fatalities, compared to 10 fatalities for the same time last year, an increase of 100 percent. There have also been four vehicle-related deaths this year on the Big Island police don’t count toward the official total, two of which occurred in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and two on private property.

DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide, police said.