HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0587.001 2006-2008 Page 1 of 1
Murashige, Laura
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From: Lehua Kaae [lehua@nhop.org] (ail ~ ~ '
c.
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2007 10:50 AM . ~'~i
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: M. Stevens
Subject: Testimony for Res. 294-07 for 9/6/07 County Council Meeting @ Keauhou Kona Resort Hotel
Attachments: Dear CouncilwomanFord 09.05.07.pdf; DUI Combined 2005,2006,2007 map 08.21.07.pdf; HC
- Total DUI Arrests 2003 - 2007.pdf; Number of Motor Vehicle Related Fatalities 2000 -
2006.pdf
Aloha,
Please provide copies of Dr. Sharon Vitousek's attached testimony and supporting
documents regarding Resolution 294-07 to all County Council members participating in the
9/6/07 County Council meeting.
If you have problems opening the attached files, please call me at 887-1945 or Makani at 887-
2425.
Mahalo for you assistance,
Lehua Kaae
North Hawaii Outcomes Project
65-1241 Pomaikai PI., Ste. 7
Kamuela, Hawaii 96743
Caron: No: 587. l
Ref. Ta ~e~ u.~
9/5/2007 Ref. Date sEP s 2!1!~ _
E.
September 5, 2007
Ms. Brenda Ford
County Council Chair
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
•
Re: Res. 294-07
Dear Councilwoman Ford,
~ ~ I believe, as many people working in this area do, that continuine to fund a
Hawaii County Traffic Safety Coordinator is essential to building on the
• progress which has been made in the last few years and to continue to make
enough progress to reduce traffic deaths in Hawaii County.
Over the past three years, Hawaii Island has made substantial progress in
addressing its high death rate from motor vehicle-related crashes and
impaired driving. This progress is due in a large part to the effective work
of the Traffic Safety Coordinator. The Traffic Safety Coordinator has
worked to effectively engage police, courts, emergency room providers,
Hawaii County agencies, schools, and the media in the effort to reduce
traffic deaths, impaired driving, and save lives. More specifically the
Hawaii Island Traffic Safety Coordinator has:
• Effectively worked with police to increase enforcement of driving
under the influence laws and visibility of enforcement through media
coverage.
• Coordinated training of police in use of intoxilizers (see chart with
increased DUI arrests).
• Coordinated increased training of Drug Recognition Enforcement
(DREI officers, which has substantially increased police staffing in this
critical area. This increases the chances that impaired drivers who test
negative for alcohol will get an in-field assessment for drugs such as meth.
• Helped increase 'o~ int training for police, prosecutors, and emergency
medical service personnel in operating a vehicle under the influence of
intoxicants (OVUII).
• Helped identify problems in the process to arrest impaired drivers
including the testing processes. The coordinator has helped to improve the
processes and shortened the time to get test results. The Traffic Safety
Coordinator has helped improve communication between police,
prosecutors, emergency rooms and testing labs.
• Analyzed Hawaii County DUI arrest data to identify target audiences
for interventions.
• Analyzed the administrative driver's licenses revocation (ADLRO)
process for opportunities to improve and facilitate improvement.
e9.i
o !~_ar, ~a.
For those knowledgeable about this effort, there is no doubt that this work
has made a difference and helped to make Hawaii County safer for its
a'. citizens.
The potential negative impact of deleting this position is very clear to those
on the inside and may be less clear to those who are not familiar with the
• details of the work. It may be that better documentation of the value of this
position is needed. I believe it would be a major disservice to residents of
and visitors to Hawaii Island to do away with this position. It would be
inconsistent with the County Council and the Mayor's publicly stated
i ~ priority on saving lives and reducing motor vehicle-related crashes and
deaths.
• Please give your consideration to continuing your priority on saving lives
and staffing accordingly. I am always available to answer anYquestions
you may have and can be contacted through my office at 808-887-1945.
Sincerely,
Sharon H. Vitousek, M.D.
Director, North Hawaii Outcomes Project
Enclosure: Death numbers, DUI chart, DUI map
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DUI Arrests by Hawaii County Districts
2005 -YTD Island total = 1,069
2006 - YTD I land total = 1.275
*2007 -YTD Island total = 781
' / 1 2000 DISTRICTS
4
NORTH KOHALA
HAWAII
~ 4/4/0
`t4`~`~w-~` 54 X.7~ / 44 COUNT Y
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Nt7RTH KONA `n~' ~ ~ 1~~ {
' 166 / 133 / 83 ~
NS - 540 1 653 / 368 ~°_`;~K~ ~e
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i souTHKOru 31 (42 / 23 :3`!nai 8ds'x'
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* Figures for yeas ending August 21, 2007 Data source: Hawaii County Police Departrnent
Chart: North Hawaii Outcomes Projec[, Aug. 2007
http://www.nhop.org
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