Honolulu drunken-driving arrests have increased 106 percent since 2000, according to last year's police statistics.

Arrests have been going up for the last eight years. It could mean that more people are drinking and driving, police and advocates said.

“;But it's also a very high possibility that law enforcement are making huge strides in making drunk driving enforcement a priority,”; said Leah Marx, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaii executive director.

In 2008, police arrested 4,316 people for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, a 10 percent increase from 2007. In 2000, DUI arrests were at 2,089.

Of 2008's DUI arrests, 1,719 were considered by law “;highly intoxicated,”; with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.15 or above. Driving with a reading of 0.08 or above is against the law.

The average blood-alcohol content also was about 0.15, the same as in 2007.

Of the 46 traffic fatalities last year, 14 of them were during alcohol-related accidents. Police said that number may climb as pending investigations continue. In 2007, it was 24 of the 67 traffic fatalities.

Of the 4,316 arrested for DUI last year, 4,252 of them have been charged.

Three of the five traffic deaths so far this year have been linked to drivers under the influence.

Alcohol-related accidents, however, dropped last year to 182. In 2007, there were 207 alcohol-related accidents.

Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa said the department has made it a priority to enforce drunken-driving laws, pushing some of the responsibility for enforcing the law to patrol units.

Marx said there's a number of other factors - residents drinking more because of a poor economy, or population increases. The state's population from 2000 to last year increased by about 6.3 percent to 1.28 million residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But she said she expects drunken-driving arrests to increase because of the police department's diligence.

“;The police department sees the impact it has on the community,”; Marx said. “;Those numbers are going to increase because they're really making it a focus.”;

The state Department of Transportation recently announced five proposals for this year's legislative session aimed to curb traffic fatalities. One of them would fine drivers of commercial vehicles up to $500 depending on their alcohol level.

In 2006, the state saw 161 traffic deaths, more than 50 of which were alcohol related. That year Hawaii had the nation's highest rate of alcohol-related deaths.

Correa noted that last year's traffic death toll was the lowest since 1999, which saw 44 road deaths.

“;Our job is to minimize injuries and collisions and have a major impact on fatalities,”; Correa said. “;If people know that there are officers out there, they do slow down, and they do abide by the laws of the road.”;

Correa said drinking past the legal limit doesn't take much. A person's impairment depends on several factors, including weight, height, whether they've eaten and their tolerance level.

“;But you shouldn't even explore that area,”; Correa said. “;If you're going to drink any amount of alcohol, you shouldn't drive. That's the message we want out there. You don't know what your limit is.”;