Cinco de Mayo Impaired Driving Enforcement

Pictured from left to right are current members of MPD’s DUI Task Force Unit: Officer Alvin Ota, Officer Kunal Chopra, Sergeant Nick Krau, Officer Aaron Mark, and Officer Jun Hattori. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, 2015. Photo credit: Maui Police.

The Maui Police Department will be participating in a national impaired driving enforcement campaign starting this Thursday and continuing through the weekend.

Starting this Thursday, May 5th, The Maui Police Department will be participating in the campaign sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The intent of this campaign is to save lives through voluntarily compliance and by taking a zero tolerance approach to impaired driving enforcement.

Historically, Cinco de Mayoo, or the fifth of May commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War, but Maui Police say, “present-day celebrations often lead to drunk driving—and there’s no victory in that.”

“While traffic enforcement is always a priority for our Traffic Section, motorist can expect to see an increase to our normal enforcement activities,” said Sergeant Nick Krau with the Maui Police Department- Traffic Section.

“We will be conducting several Intoxication Control Checkpoints at various locations throughout Maui County. The enforcement of Speed Limit, Distracted Driver (Cell Phone), and Seat Belt laws will also be increased as a part of this campaign,” he said.

Sgt. Krau also to the opportunity to remind drivers to wear their seat belts and make sure every vehicle occupant is buckled up. “Being properly secured in a vehicle is the single most effective way to avoid being killed in a traffic crash,” he said.

The minimum fine for not wearing a seat belt and/or not being properly restrained in a vehicle is $102. Drivers are responsible for ensuring all occupants in their vehicle are properly restrained. Drivers will be issued the citation for any and all seat belt violations which occur in a vehicle.

Maui police are also reminding the public about the state’s “Move Over Law,” which states drivers approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped with its flashing emergency lights, shall: slow down to a safe speed, make a lane change into the adjacent lane or if possible, to two lanes over which leaves one lane between the driver and the emergency vehicle.

“It’s our job to protect Maui County’s motorist and we are taking this responsibility seriously,” said Sgt. Krau.

Maui Police Department DUI Task Force Sergeant Nick Krau is also asking for the public’s assistance in helping to keep roadways safe by following the following tips:

• Plan a safe way home before you start celebrating.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver. If you wait until you’re impaired, you’re more likely to make a bad decision.
• If you’ve been drinking, utilize UBER (a smart phone based online transportation network), take a taxi, call a sober friend or family member.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call the Maui Police Department to report it. You could save a life.
• If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, be a true friend and take their keys. Help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.