By the end of the year, the tally of O'ahu drunken driving arrests is likely to reach a nine-year high, spurring calls from law enforcement for drivers to exercise caution during the holiday season.

Through October, Honolulu police arrested 3,664 drivers on suspicion of DUI — an average of 366 a month. That compares with 327 a month last year.

As of yesterday, 42 people have died in 41 traffic collisions on O'ahu roadways; seven of the 41 collisions involved alcohol.

Now, police and state transportation officials say they'll use elevated federal funding to crack down on the problem. Through Jan. 2, HPD will man impaired-driver checkpoints every holiday weekend at unannounced times and locations.

Due to a grim statistic — Hawai'i's per-capita fatality rate because of alcohol-related wrecks ranked among the top three in the country for 2006 — the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration increased the state's allotment for anti-drunk driving education and law enforcement efforts from $500,000 to $2.5 million, said Tammy Mori, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation. DOT disburses the funds to county law enforcement agencies.

Half of the $2.5 million will go to law enforcement efforts against drunken driving on all islands, including overtime for police officers. The biggest share of the law enforcement allotment will go to the HPD.

"The real key to highway safety is enforcement, enforcement, enforcement, period," said Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle. "If that money will increase the opportunities of police departments to vigorously and repeatedly deter drunk driving, we're going to have safe highways. Period."

"It is better to arrive late than not at all," said Honolulu police Maj. Thomas T. Nitta Jr., head of the department's Traffic Division. "Be grateful for all the things that you have, and think about what you could lose if you are involved in a collision."

TOUGHER NEW LAW

Authorities this year also are empowered to go after drunken drivers under a new law that took effect July 1, 2007.

Under the law, drivers found to be at a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 or higher are categorized as highly intoxicated and subject to stiffer penalties than would be imposed for those over the 0.08 level, the definition of legally drunk.

Under Act 198, a first-time arrest for drunken driving can mean license revocation for six months to one year with no option of getting a conditional permit.

If convicted, the driver would also receive a six-month absolute license suspension; mandatory attendance at a 14-hour-minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program; and any one or more of the following: 72 hours of community service, 48 hours to five days in jail, $150 to $1,000 fine and a $25 neurotrauma special fund surcharge.

First-time offenders with a blood-alcohol level under 0.15 face 90-day license suspension (30 absolute, with a conditional permit for 60), a fine of $150 to $1,000 and 14 hours of substance abuse rehabilitation.

"Everybody knows that during the holiday season there are people out drinking and socializing," Carlisle said. "That clearly leads to the increased likelihood of people being out on the road intoxicated. We take that stuff seriously. There is not the slightest doubt that roadblocks work."

Carlisle wonders whether the nation's recession means more people will be drinking at home, rather than spending money at bars.

"It leads to less carnage on the highways but can lead to more carnage on the domestic environment," he said.

ECONOMY A WORRY

Some officials worry that this holiday season may be more dangerous than usual because of Hawai'i's sluggish economy.

"Traditionally and historically in periods of economic slowdown, unfortunately you do see a rise in drinking as well as other social ills," said state Rep. Sharon Har, (D-40, Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa). "It's a natural progression of people being down. I do think, unfortunately, given our current economic situation, people are going to drink, and unfortunately, driving is part of that."

Har introduced a bill that imposes an ignition interlock system in 2010 for repeat offenders and first-time offenders with blood-alcohol levels of 0.16 and above. She introduced the bill after her car was struck by a repeat drunken driver last year.

Attorney Patrick McPherson, who specializes in defending drunken driving suspects, said increasing the number of police officers at sobriety checkpoints has resulted in more arrests.

"They're a lot more effective," McPherson said. "They basically used to have four officers at a road block, and now they send out a lot of their recruits, up to 14 guys. When officers are dealing with one vehicle, they can still check out every single car that comes through. It's just far more effective."

The enforcement is having some effect.

Business is clearly down in O'ahu restaurants and bars, said Chris Colgate, who is the regional manager for Duke's Waikiki and a board member of the Hawaii Restaurant Association. And fewer customers in Waikiki means that impaired drivers may stand out to police, he said.

"Because there's fewer cars, they're easier to spot," Colgate said.

At the same time, he said, police are "better trained and better equipped to do their job."

Whatever the factors, McPherson has seen a bump in drunken-driving suspects arrested over the Thanksgiving holiday.

And with Christmas and New Year's coming up fast, McPherson and others in his field are certain to be busy.

"I'm seeing a huge increase," he said. "I have a feeling it's going to be pretty busy for the next two or three weeks."