22 DUI Arrests, 81 Speeding Citations During Halloween Weekend Enforcement on Maui

Maui police arrested 22 individuals for Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, and issued 81 speeding citations during holiday impaired driving enforcement over the Halloween weekend.

In continuing with the Maui Police Departments zero tolerance approach to impaired driving, officers were out in force starting Friday, Oct. 29 and continuing through the Halloween holiday weekend.

The Maui Police Department conducted seven separate intoxication checkpoints screening a total of 832 vehicles.

Of the 22 OVUII arrests, Maui police towed 18 vehicles under the authority of the Maui County Tow Ordinance. Any vehicle that was not towed under the ordinance, had disabling damages due to a motor vehicle crash, or there was a sober passenger able to legally drive the vehicle.

The Maui Police Department also issued 75 speeding citations and six excessive speeding citations in which motorists were going 30 mph or more over the posted speed limit.

There was one traffic fatality over the Halloween weekend; however, alcohol/drugs or speeding do not appear to be factors in that crash. The single car crash in Kula claimed the life of a 76-year-old Kula woman on Halloween night. Police say a preliminary investigation reveals that the 1941 Ford Woody station wagon that the woman was driving, sustained a mechanical failure which may have contributed to the crash. More on that incident is available here.

As of Nov. 1, 2021 Maui County Police have made 481 OVUII arrests with 20 arrests for habitually operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, for a total of 501 total year to date arrests. This is compared to 428 at the same time last year, marking a 17% increase.

Lieutenant William Hankins, Commander of the Maui Police Department Traffic Division said, “The public can expect the impaired driving checkpoints as well as saturation patrols to continue throughout the remainder of this year. We will do everything in our power to stop impaired drivers from selfishly injuring or killing innocent victims. We need our community to understand: It is up to them to make the smart decision to drive sober and help put an end to these senseless avoidable injuries and deaths that have occurred on our roadways.”

“The Maui Police Department does not tolerate impaired driving. When you are caught driving impaired, you will be arrested,” said Lt. Hankins.

The department advises the public that if they are out on the roads and see someone suspected of driving impaired, they are encouraged to call the Maui Police Department and report it. “You could help save a life. We humbly request the public’s help. Your support is critical to helping us make our roads safer and stopping preventable impaired driving deaths from occurring,” said Lt. Hankins.