HPD setting up DUI checkpoints during holiday season

In an effort to reduce traffic injuries and deaths, the Honolulu Police Department will set up DUI checkpoints throughout the upcoming holiday season.

Checkpoints will be set up at unannounced times and locations from Wednesday, Oct. 31 through Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013 including, but not limited to Veterans Day weekend, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

HPD is reminding the public not to drink and drive, and that the legal drinking age is 21. Promoting intoxicating liquor to a person under the age of 21 is a misdemeanor punishable of up to one year imprisonment.

As of Oct. 29, 51 people have been killed in 50 traffic collisions on Oahu. Speed, alcohol, and/or drugs were factors in 32 of those crashes.

During the same period in 2011, 47 people were killed in 45 vehicle collisions; 17 of the collisions had speed, alcohol, and/or drugs as contributing factors.

Honolulu police officers have been conducting impaired driver checkpoints every week from October 2012 and will continue to do so through Sept. 2013 as part of the federal "52/12" sobriety checkpoint program.