Full Notification

Hawai'i Police Department
Traffic Services Section
Sergeant Robert Pauole
Phone: 961-2305
April 20, 2011


Media Release

This Friday, Good Friday, kicks off a three-day holiday weekend.

To help prevent tragedy on our roads, Big Island police will conduct DUI checkpoints and roving patrols beginning Friday and continuing through the Merrie Monarch festival the following week. The effort is part of a national and statewide campaign called "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest."

Driving under the influence of alcohol presents a potential danger to every motorist, passenger and pedestrian that driver encounters. So far this year, Big Island police have made 404 DUI arrests.

Police remind the public that the County of Hawai'i Mass Transit Agency maintains a Shared-Ride Taxi program year round. Every individual is entitled to buy subsidized taxi coupons for as low as $2 each and use them with participating taxi companies. For details, call 961-8744 or visit www.heleonbus.org/shared-ride-taxi-program.

So far this year, there have been eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island. Those crashes ended the lives of eight individuals who never imagined they wouldn't reach their destination. Please do your part to keep our roads safe. Always remember to have a designated sober and licensed driver before you start drinking. If you don't find one, don't take a chance—take a taxi.