Police arrest 18 motorists for DUI during week of Dec. 9-15 on Big Island roadways

The crackdown on motorists who decide to drive under the influence of an intoxicant on Big Island roadways continues, with Hawai’i Island police making 18 DUI arrests from Dec. 9-15.

Seven of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes; 2 were younger than 21 years old.

Police have made a total of 923 DUI arrests so far this year, a 2.33% increase from the 902 made by this time in 2023.

An updated review by Hawaii Police Department Traffic Services discovered a total of 943 major crashes so far this year, a 16.3% hike in major crashes compared with the 811 recorded by this time last year.

This years has been a deadly one on Big Island roadways, too, with nearly 30 people dying in crashes so far this year.

There have been 26 fatal crashes and 28 fatalities around the island since the beginning of 2024, marking alarming spikes of 85.7% for fatal crashes and 86.7% for fatalities by the same time in 2023.

There’s also been 1 non-traffic fatality — one that does not happen on a public roadway — this year, an increase of 100% from last year when there were none.

Police report DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue islandwide.