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Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Hilo): Feds put up $2.5 million to fight DUI
September 22, 2008
by Carolyn Lucas Stephens Media
Nearly $2.5 million in federal money will pay for initiatives to combating drunk driving in Hawaii, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka announced Thursday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will disburse the grant, which can only be used to deter drunken driving and promote traffic safety.
"Too many people in Hawaii have been seriously injured or killed by drunk drivers," Akaka said. "On the Big Island alone, police said 15 people were killed last year in drunk driving accidents and more than 1,400 drivers under the influence were arrested, far too many."
Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna said state and federal grants are "very important" to local police departments. Mahuna looked forward to Hawaii Island receiving some of the funding. He said it will be used to fund overtime for DUI enforcement, screenings, roadblocks, measures aimed at getting drunken drivers off the road, and saturation patrols, where officers cover a specific area where repeated drunken-driving arrests have occurred.
Mahuna said his officers are dedicated to keeping the fatality rate down. By vigilant DUI enforcement, the Police Department has seen a significant decline in traffic deaths related to alcohol and drugs.
As of Monday, police had arrested 987 motorists for DUI this year, compared with 938 during the same period last year, a 5 percent increase.
"We have taken a stance against impaired driving. It kills more people than murder and can be prevented by just making a spilt-second decision not to get into a vehicle, realize one's limits and not make bad decisions," he said. "It's critical that prevention and enforcement efforts receive adequate funding and remain one of our highest priorities."
Leah Marx, executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Hawaii chapter, also stressed the importance of money for prevention programs, enforcement and other measures. Marx said highly visible law enforcement keeps drunk drivers off the road and save lives.
Other recent efforts include Gov. Lingle passing into law a bill that established the framework for an ignition interlock program to keep convicted drunken drivers from driving while intoxicated again. With ignition interlock devices, the driver must blow into the device, which locks down the ignition if the person's blood-alcohol content level is above .02 percent.
A Hawaii Ignition Interlock Implementation Task Force will fine tune the details of how the program would work and make recommendations to the Legislature prior to the 2009 legislative session. The task force will focus on such details as how to apply the law to motorcycles, how to treat drivers under 18, whether drivers can take off the device early for good behavior and related issues. Once these issues are addressed by the Legislature, the devices could be put into use July 1, 2010.
http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2008/09/22/features/features02.txt
Year: [2008] , 2007 , 2006
September 2008
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- Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii delegation joins move to review slain Marine's award [September 30, 2008]
- Washington Post: Effort to Skirt Contracting Rules Unnerves Federal Workers [September 30, 2008]
- Pacific Magazine: Veterans Administration To Pay For Veterans' Care In American Samoa [September 30, 2008]
- The Hill: Chambliss praises Akaka on singing skills, but says he and others can't carry a tune [September 30, 2008]
- BetaNews: Legislation looks to patch privacy protections at borders [September 29, 2008]
- Gannett News Service: Veterans to get more aid [September 28, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: VA Disability payments go up Dec. 1 [September 28, 2008]
- New York Times: House and Senate Differ Over Benefit Plan for Filipino Veterans [September 25, 2008]
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Isle Democrats weigh in on financial crisis [September 25, 2008]
- Washington Post: Benefits for Same-Sex Partners Focus of Senate Hearing [September 25, 2008]
- New York Blade: Feds oppose domestic partner benefits bill [September 24, 2008]
- KHON2 News: Hawaii's Delegation is Cautious on Plans to Stimulate Economy [September 24, 2008]
- KHNL NBC 8: Senator Akaka questions nation's top money officials [September 24, 2008]
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Filipino vets rally for full benefits
[September 24, 2008]
- Associated Press: Akaka warns against bailout without accountability [September 23, 2008]
- Associated Press: US House approves some Filipino veteran benefits [September 23, 2008]
- Federal Times: Senators raise doubts about DHS' stability during transition [September 23, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Delegation wants taxpayer safeguards in financial bailout [September 23, 2008]
- USA TODAY: VA to increase benefits for mild brain trauma [September 23, 2008]
- Hawaii Tribune-Herald (Hilo): Feds put up $2.5 million to fight DUI [September 22, 2008]
- New York Times: Action Is Sought to Ensure Timely Financing for V.A. [September 19, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Lawmakers push legislation to help World War II Filipino veterans [September 19, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: UH School of Social Work named after Myron 'Pinky' Thompson [September 19, 2008]
- Talk Radio News Service: Terrorists may target transition [September 19, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii awarded $5 million renewable energy grant [September 19, 2008]
- The Hill (Washington, D.C.): Measure would provide predictable care for vets [September 18, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii gets $2.5M grant to fight drunk driving [September 18, 2008]
- Military Times: VA benefits nominee would prep for change [September 18, 2008]
- Federal Times: Early nominations key in transition, execs say [September 17, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Defense bill authorizes spending $629.5 million in Hawai'i [September 17, 2008]
- Philippines Inquirer: Filipino Veterans Equity Bill in the House [September 16, 2008]
- Wall Street Journal: IRS Wants Free E-Filing [September 15, 2008]
- CongressDaily: Utah senator stalls 'plain language' bill [September 15, 2008]
- Honolulu Advertiser: Dems, GOP blame each other for Wall Street turmoil [September 15, 2008]
- KHNL NBC 8: Government funds study on vog's impact on children [September 12, 2008]
- Congressional Quarterly: House Clears Veterans' COLA, Passes Health Care Bill [September 11, 2008]
- Military Times: House lawmakers approve veterans COLA [September 11, 2008]
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- KGMB9: Mighty Mo Commemorates End of WWII
[September 2, 2008]
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