"It's zero tolerance," said DUI Task Force officer Mark Hada, who was among officers kept busy issuing citations during the morning-to-evening enforcement. "Nobody gets any breaks."

At least two drivers were arrested on Mokulele Highway and dozens of others were cited for speeding and other offenses Monday as part of the crackdown on speeding. Officers will continue being on the lookout for speeding motorists today.

Traffic officers, assisted by patrol officers, are targeting Mokulele, Piilani, Kuihelani, Haleakala and Honoapiilani highways as part of Operation SPEED, said Capt. Jeffrey Tanoue.

By citing – and in some cases arresting – drivers, police hope to deliver the message to motorists to slow down and drive safely, he said.

"The roads can be potentially the most dangerous place on this island," said DUI Task Force officer Nick Krau. "We all have family and loved ones that drive on these same roads. It's a proven fact that speed kills."

Tanoue developed Operation SPEED to target speeding and aggressive drivers in 2005 when he was commander of the police Traffic Section.

The concentrated effort supplements daily traffic enforcement by officers throughout Maui County, Tanoue said.

"We are out there doing enforcement seven days a week," he said. "We have issued thousands and thousands of citations."

Last year, Maui County police issued nearly 42,000 parking and traffic citations.

Police had warned of the "total saturation" crackdown earlier this month, with traffic Lt. Bobby Hill citing recent traffic deaths in which speeding and reckless driving appeared to be factors.

Fourteen people have died on Maui County roads this year, a 56 percent increase over the nine traffic deaths at the same time last year.

Covering both morning and evening hours, the enforcement Monday caught drivers who said they were hurrying to get to work early in the day as well as some rushing to get home at night.

One driver was arrested Monday morning on Mokulele Highway after nearly hitting Hada, who had signaled the motorist to pull over. A check showed the man was driving despite having had his license revoked, Hada said.

In Kihei-bound lanes of the highway, where the speed limit is 45 mph, Hada clocked one vehicle at 74 mph and several traveling at 71 mph.

A few people said they were late for work or appointments or trying to overtake slow-moving vehicles, Hada said.

"A lot of the people don't understand they are placing other people's lives in jeopardy," Hada said. "All they are concerned about is making their appointments. They're not looking at the big picture.

"It's a matter of education and citation rather than coming upon a crash. By then, it's too late."

In Kahului-bound lanes of the highway near the Central Maui baseyard, DUI Task Force officer Nick Krau and traffic investigator Dukie Racadio encountered speeding drivers who said they were late to pick up children or late to work.

The real problem was carelessness, Racadio said. "They don't pay attention to their speed."

Krau said many drivers asked to be let go with warnings instead of citations. But the officers were giving tickets, as well as arresting drivers for excessive speeding if they were traveling 81 mph or faster.

The fine for speeding is $5 per mile over the speed limit plus $57 in fees.

Under a law that took effect this year, drivers who are clocked traveling 80 mph or faster and those traveling 30 mph over the speed limit can be charged with excessive speeding. Those convicted of the petty misdemeanor crime face potential jail time, higher fines and license suspensions.

While one speeding driver groused about officers having to meet a "quota," Krau said officers aren't required to issue a specific number of tickets.

"It's not our goal to give as many speeding tickets as we can," he said. "Our goal is a long-term goal of gaining voluntary speed compliance from all motorists out there."

Tanoue said all the money collected from traffic fines goes to the state general fund, not the Maui Police Department.

On Monday morning, a pickup truck parked on the shoulder of Mokulele Highway was a reminder of an arrest made after Krau stopped a driver traveling 61 mph in the 45-mph zone. While the man tried to give a different name, Krau recognized the driver as someone whose license had been revoked for a prior drunken driving conviction.

Krau said he encountered "not as many speeders as I thought – but more than there should be."

After spending much of the day doing speed enforcement, Krau planned to work at night doing DUI enforcement as well.

"We're trying to make the roads safer for everyone," he said.

Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@maui news.com.