KIHEI — Even with bars limiting hours and customers and fewer vehicles on the road amid the COVID-19 pandemic, police are continuing to arrest impaired drivers at rates similar to last year.

Three drivers were arrested Saturday night when police traffic officers set up checkpoints in South and Central Maui as part of Saturation Saturday, joining the nationwide Mothers Against Drunk Driving night of increased law enforcement patrols and sobriety checkpoints.

“We decided we would still participate in this great event of Saturation Saturday, even though MADD was unable to come out and physically support us due to COVID concerns,” said DUI Task Force Sgt. Nick Krau.

“Like everyone, COVID has been making our job more difficult,” he said. “But we have been adapting and finding ways to continue and provide service to our community through the pandemic.”

Officers wore face coverings, and in some cases gloves, while approaching drivers at the checkpoints.

While Krau and other traffic officers ran one checkpoint on North Kihei Road, police solo bike Sgt. Gregg Rowe and other officers staffed a checkpoint at the same time on Maui Veterans Highway. The traffic officers joined forces for a third DUI roadblock later Saturday night.

Officers made three impaired-driving arrests at the roadblocks. One of those arrested was a 17-year-old boy with three passengers, Krau said. He said there was also an underage drinking arrest.

Another impaired driver was arrested after a crash late Saturday night in Kihei, police records show.

Three vehicles were towed Saturday night under a county law allowing for the towing of vehicles driven by suspected impaired drivers.

Maui police participated for the second year in the Saturation Saturday event.

It was started as a prelude to Labor Day weekend, which is one of the deadliest times of the year for impaired driving fatalities, police say.

Last year, MADD volunteers joined officers at DUI roadblocks on Maui, holding signs and handing out goodie bags to sober drivers who were pulled into the checkpoints.

“We want to raise awareness that we’re going to be out here Labor Day weekend,” Krau said. “It’s good to be proactive and let everyone know to start planning their festivities more responsibly, knowing that we’re going to be out here.”

As of last week, police had made 337 impaired-driving arrests, similar to the 342 arrests at the same time last year.

He said officers have been making the arrests even with some bars and restaurants closing earlier and placing limits on the numbers of customers, in keeping with social distancing.

Some liquor establishments have yet to reopen, “which is really unfortunate,” Krau said.

“We really want business to be booming again,” he said. “But we also want people to be responsible.”

With fewer vehicles on the road, “we have been able to focus our efforts on locating impaired drivers,” Krau said. “It’s been easier to identify impaired drivers.”

So far this year, six people have died in traffic crashes on Maui County roads, compared with 15 at the same time last year.

The effort to reduce fatal collisions has been helped by the DUI towing law, Krau said. “That has been an excellent tool to help us get the instrument that these impaired drivers are using to commit these crimes off the road.”

Another help has been the use of electronic warrants to obtain blood samples from impaired drivers, especially after motor vehicle collisions “to insure impaired drivers are held accountable,” Krau said.

With support from Mayor Michael Victorino, the County Council and police administration, officers and the prosecutor’s office have been “working aggressively to take these impaired drivers off the road,” Krau said.

Police also have responded to community reports about suspected impaired drivers.

“It shows that when a community works together, we can bring these traffic fatality numbers down,” Krau said. “When we work together, those numbers come down and lives are saved.”

On Saturday night, police made the first DUI arrest shortly after 8:30 p.m. when a man driving a new pickup truck was directed into the roadblock on North Kihei Road.

Traffic investigator James Taylor directed the driver through field sobriety tests before determining he was driving under the influence of alcohol. The man, who had a passenger in the truck, was arrested and his truck was towed.

A passenger must be licensed and sober to drive a vehicle after a driver is arrested for DUI, Krau said.

“The main thing is everyone’s safe,” Krau said, as others picked up the passenger and a tow truck arrived for the truck. “Everyone got home safely.”

Krau commended traffic officers, including DUI Task Force officers Stephen Kelly and Caleb Guarriello, who will be out looking for impaired drivers through the Labor Day holiday.

“These highly skilled professionals are out on our roads at night keeping everyone safe,” he said. “These officers often work alone and are tasked with locating impaired drivers and taking them off our roads. This is a dangerous and very unpredictable job. They serve our community with dedication and pride.”

Krau said sobriety checkpoints have been shown to be effective.

“It’s important for us to remember that operating a motor vehicle on public roads is a privilege,” he said. “We are granted a conditional privilege to drive on public roadways based on demonstrating our driving skills, knowledge and following certain rules and laws. If we violate these laws or rules, the state reserves the right to restrict, suspend or revoke our driving privileges.”

“Driving impaired is a sure way of having your driving privileges revoked, because no one has the right to jeopardize the safety and lives of others.”

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.