18 Traffic Arrests During Maui Cinco De Mayo Enforcement Campaign

Maui Now graphic.

Maui police made a total of 18 traffic-related arrests during a Cinco de Mayo Impaired Driving Enforcement campaign. This included 13 impaired driving arrests and 5 other traffic crime arrests.

One offender was stopped on Mokulele Highway in the early morning hours following Cinco de Mayo by a member of the OUI Task Force Unit for traveling in excess of 106 miles per hour.

After a complete investigation, the officer determined the operator was under the influence of an intoxicating liquor. The operator was then placed under arrest and charged for the offenses of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant and Excessive Speeding.

The effort was part of a national impaired driving prevention campaign. Beginning on May 5th through the morning of May 6th, 2017, the Maui Police Department conducted multiple OUI checkpoints and increased its saturation traffic enforcement patrols to prevent impaired driving.

This campaign was sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and State of Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation. The intent was to save lives by raising awareness, increasing voluntarily compliance and by taking a zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving.

Maui police say present-day Cinco de Mayo celebrations “often lead to impaired driving which make these increased patrols and OUI checkpoints very necessary.” This increase in enforcement was supported by officers from the Maui Police Department’s patrol districts, OUI Task Force Unit, Motorcycle Detail and Vehicle Homicide Unit.

Officers at the intoxication control checkpoints noticed numerous vehicles with occupants coming from celebrations and having designated drivers. The Maui Police Department commended all of those who celebrated Cinco de Mayo responsibly.