LIHU‘E — To combat those driving under the influence this holiday season, the Kaua‘i Police Department increased police presence on Kaua‘i roadways.
Since announcing this early in December, KPD has had a total of 10 stationary checkpoints and five roving patrols, according to KPD Acting Lt. Jay Scribner.
About 665 vehicles have been screened, and that’s led to 115 citations and five arrests, Scribner reported Tuesday.
All five of the arrests were for operating a vehicle under the influence.
In one instance, a male driver was stopped at a Lihu‘e checkpoint showing signs of impairment.
Scribner said the driver was coming from the northeast side of the island and trying to get to his hotel on the South Shore.
“He provided a breath sample and was more than three times the legal limit,” Scribner said. The legal limit in Hawai‘i is 0.08%.
On Christmas Eve last year, a driver who tested positive for the presence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.133%, was involved in a fatal, two-vehicle crash near Knudsen Gap (Halfway Bridge) on Kaumuali‘i Highway.
Checkpoints will continue through the new year, and police will also be monitoring speeding, seat-belt usage and the use of cell phones while driving.
“We need to keep our roadways as safe as possible so everyone will be at their place at the table come the new year,” Scribner said.
One male driver exceeded 3 times the legal limit? A male on the “lighter” side (160-180 pounds) would need to consume over 10 drinks in an hour to hit a BAC level in the .24 ballpark. And a heavier guy would have to consume even more. Super lightweight (120 pounds) still would need to consume at least 8 drinks in an hour to hit that.
Anyway… Who the heck was giving this guy this much alcohol on the North Shore then letting him drive all the way south? I wouldn’t even be able to walk or talk with a BAC that high.