Maui Police to Crack Down on Holiday DUIs

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 Traffic Section will be cracking down on impaired driving as part of the annual holiday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” nationwide campaign.

“While we always take a zero tolerance approach to impaired driving, this campaign helps to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving through high-visibility enforcement and public education,” said Maui police sergeant Nick Krau with the DUI Task Force in a department press release.

“This time of year, with all the holiday parties and festive occasions, many party goers will be consuming liquor. If you’re celebrating with alcohol this holiday season, The Maui Police Department has a message for you: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” said Krau.

The enforcement campaign runs from now until Jan. 2, 2016.  Police say they will be actively searching for impaired drivers.

“This campaign is a critical law enforcement program that saves lives during a time of the year when impaired driving traditionally increases,” said Krau.  “If you plan on drinking at a holiday party, bar, or restaurant, let a sober person do the driving – a sober friend, a taxi or public transportation. The safest and only approach is to drive sober,” the department announcement stated.

Department officials say every year, more than 10,322 people are killed by impaired drivers across the nation.

Police say the primary mission of our DUI Task Force Unit is to drastically reduce the number of impaired driving crashes in Maui County.

“As participants of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign period, we will be increasing our number of patrols, and setting up intoxication control checkpoints. If you’re driving impaired, we will find and arrest you. No warnings, no excuses. You’ll face jail time, fines, loss of your driver’s license, and other DUI related expenses,” Maui police said.

In addition to reminding all drivers to drive sober, police are asking for the help and support of the community. “If someone you know is about to drive after drinking, take their keys and help them get home safely. We’ve got to work together to make our roads safer this holiday season and year-round,” police said.

• Maui police offered the following tips to ensure the holidays are safe for all:
  Under the right conditions, even one drink can impair your judgment and increase the risk of getting arrested for driving drunk—or worse, the risk of having a crash.
• If you will be drinking, do not plan on driving. Plan ahead; designate a sober driver before the party begins.
• If you have been drinking, do not drive. Call a taxi, phone a sober friend or family member, or use our public bus system.
• Remember a sober driver isn’t the person who drank the least. It’s someone who didn’t drink at all.