Police departments in all counties are gearing up for Super Bowl Sunday as they urge motorists to drive sober.

What You Need To Know

  • Maui officers are taking a zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving

  • The Hawaii Police Department has teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind Big Island football fans – “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk”

  • Officers remind the public that whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl viewing party or attending one, “everyone has an important job to do”

The Maui Police Department’s Traffic Division started conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols at different locations on Friday to address impaired driving over the weekend, according to an MPD news release.

Maui officers are taking a zero-tolerance approach to impaired driving. In addition to being arrested for impaired driving, the violator’s vehicle may be subject to tow at the registered owner’s expense. The goal, according to MPD, is to promote voluntary compliance and reduce motor vehicle crashes on roadways.

The MPD DUI Task Force Unit provides these tips:

  • Plan a safe way home before consuming intoxicants; designate a sober driver.
  • If you’ve consumed intoxicants, use a car service, take a taxi or call a sober friend or family member.
  • If someone you know is impaired and intends to drive, take their keys or help them make other travel arrangements.
  • If you see an impaired driver while on the road, call the Maui Police Department.

The Hawaii Police Department has teamed up with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to remind Big Island football fans – “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

Officers remind the public that whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl viewing party or attending one, “everyone has an important job to do,” which is to help keep drunk drivers off the road so everyone can make it home safely on game day.

“We take care of each other and our ohana on the Big Island, so if you’re planning on having a Super Bowl party, please make a game plan to help your guests get home safely,” said Torey Keltner, HPD’s Traffic Services Section Program Manager, in a Hawaii Island police release.

“Sadly, five people have died in just the past six weeks in traffic crashes across the island and 98 motorists have been arrested for DUI,” added Keltner.

Nationally, one person is killed every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads. The rate of alcohol impairment among drivers involved in fatal crashes is nearly twice has high at night than during the day.

The Hawaii Police Department urges football fans to have a game plan:

  • If you’re going to a Super Bowl party and plan to drink alcohol, plan for a designated driver to get you home safely.
  • If you’re hosting a party, prepare plenty of non-alcoholic drink options and food for your guests.
  • If you’re a designated driver, “be the night’s MVP and keep that commitment front and center.”

A reminder: never serve alcohol to minors. If an underage person drinks and drives, the person who provided the alcohol can be held liable for any damage, injury or death caused by the underage driver.

Keltner said Hawaii Island police were already preparing additional DUI roadblocks and DUI patrols before the weekend. “Bottom line is that we want everyone to be safe,” said Keltner.

Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.