Big Island police arrested 22 motorists for suspected drunken driving June 28 and Sunday. Three of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes; two were younger than age 21.
South Hilo and Kona officers arrested seven drivers in each district while Puna officers arrested three and Hamakua officers two, according to data released Wednesday by the Hawaii Police Department. South Kohala, North Hilo and Ka‘u officers arrested one drivers in each district.
So far this year, there have been 601 DUI arrests compared with 447 during the same period last year, according to police. Though the department notes arrests are up 34.5% year-over-year, there were fewer people on the roads during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of arrests is actually up 2.5% from 586 in 2019.
There have been 394 major accidents so far this year compared with 401 during the same period last year.
As of Wednesday5 morning, 12 fatalities have been recorded on the Big Island’s public roadways this year, police said. By this time in 2020, 10 people had died.