According to the Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Division 283 individuals were arrested for DUI in 2007 while 219 were arrested last year.
DPS spokeswoman Lei Ogumoro said in Dec. 2008, there were 55 DUI arrests, the highest for the entire year.
She said on New Year’s Eve, the combined efforts of the Department of Public Safety personnel and the cooperation of the community paid off — only two persons were arrested for drunk driving.
She said the two arrests were made during the sobriety checkpoints conducted in three different areas on Saipan on the evening of Dec. 31, 2008 and early morning of Jan. 1.
Ogumoro said the three sobriety checkpoints conducted on the night of Dec. 24 and early morning of Dec. 25, 2008 resulted in the arrest of five individuals for drunk driving.
Sgt. Paul Ogumoro of DPS Traffic Investigation told the Variety earlier that March and June last year posted the lowest number of DUI arrests — four each.
He said there were more DUI arrests in December not only because of the holidays but also because DPS beefed up its force to ensure the safety of drivers.
In 2008, Ogumoro said seven car crashes resulted in the loss of nine lives.
Three of the car crashes were alcohol-related, two were non-alcohol related and two were undetermined.
