WAILUKU — For the second year in a row, drunken driving arrests in Maui County topped 1,000 last year.

And police hope the continued stepped-up enforcement will translate into fewer traffic deaths linked to drunken driving, The Maui News reported today.

"The bottom line is the officers continue their aggressive enforcement," said DUI Task Force Sgt. Stacey Yamashita.

In 2008, police made 1,002 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, compared with 1,011 impaired-driving arrests in 2007.

Of the arrests last year, 520, or nearly 52 percent, were made by the DUI Task Force of Yamashita and officers Mark Hada and Nick Krau.

Other officers also have stepped up DUI enforcement throughout the county, including in Hana and on Lana'i, where roadblocks have been set up, Yamashita said.

The number of DUI arrests remained high, despite higher gas prices and the economic downturn.

"It's one thing that hasn't been affected by the economy — the drinking and driving," said Krau, who made 310 DUI arrests last year. "The price of alcohol is one of the few things that hasn't increased much with the poor economy.

"It's sad — people are still out there drinking and driving."

Krau and Hada recently received commendations for their work from Maui County Police Chief Tom Phillips.

In addition to DUI arrests, Hada has cited many drivers for racing on highways, reckless driving and excessive speeding. On Thursday night, Hada arrested a 54-year-old motorcyclist on suspicion of DUI, excessive speeding and reckless driving. The motorcycle sped above 80 mph as it traveled from the area of North Kihei Road and Honoapi'ilani Highway to Kuihelani Highway, said Lt. Bobby Hill, commander of the police Traffic Section.

He said the arrest may have saved a life.

Alcohol is being investigated as a factor in 10 of the 23 crashes that resulted in 24 traffic deaths in Maui County last year.

In 2007, alcohol was suspected of contributing to seven of the 20 crashes that killed 21 people.

Krau, who has worked on the DUI Task Force for nearly five years, said he sees many repeat offenders.

"They're just not getting the message," he said. "They don't realize that their poor decisions affect other people."