The Maui News

Maui police made 12 impaired driving arrests and set up 15 sobriety checkpoints during the Memorial Day weekend, said Lt. William Hankins, commander of the Traffic Division, on Tuesday.

There also were 10 vehicles towed under a new law that allows police to tow vehicles of those arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs

In addition, the Traffic Division responded to a fatality Monday afternoon along Honoapiilani Highway that killed motorcyclist Patrick Chin, 66, of Kahana, and a near-fatality on Maui Veterans Highway on Saturday night. A 37-year-old Kahului man suffered life-threatening injuries after colliding with a wild pig while riding his moped.

“This holiday weekend, MPD Traffic Division was much busier than we had hoped,” Hankins said in an email Tuesday morning.

“Motorists really need to put the phones down, buckle up and follow all speed limits. We are entering the summer months where historically fatal crashes increase,” Hankins said.

“To date, we have five fatal crashes compared to nine the same time last year,” he continued. “If everyone driving follows the laws we have in place to keep everyone on the roads safe, we can eliminate preventable crashes and fatalities.

“Drive like the police are watching you, because we are. ”

The Traffic Division, along with Kihei, Lahaina and Wailuku patrol officers, set up sobriety checkpoints.

Police also were busy dealing with people violating public health emergency rules. From May 21 to Wednesday morning, police issued 16 citations. The busier days were May 21, with five citations (two in Wailuku and three in Kihei) and Sunday with six citations (three in Lahaina and three in Kihei), according to police.