More people than there should be are on the road | News, Sports, Jobs

Publish date: 2024-07-29

A police sergeant directs drivers heading uphill at a roadblock on Haleakala Highway at Keahua Road on Sunday afternoon. Motorists were stopped in both directions of the highway and were reminded to be aware of Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino’s public health emergency rules, including one requiring that travel be limited to essential activities, operation of essential business or essential government function. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos

Officers encountered “more people than there should be” on the road during roving checkpoints over the weekend in locations including Paia, Waikapu and Maalaea, police said.

After seven citations were issued at the roadblocks throughout Maui County on Saturday, no citations were issued Sunday, said Maui police spokeswoman Lt. Audra Sellers.

She said no arrests were made at the roadblocks, which were run by police with help from Hawaii National Guard members and Haleakala National Park Service rangers.

In all, police have made 13 arrests and issued 260 citations –many at beaches — since March 28 for violations of public health emergency rules implemented to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sellers said she didn’t have a count on how many vehicles were stopped at the weekend roadblocks, but there were “more than should be on the roadway,” she said.

Police Lt. Mark Vickers and Sgt. Dawn Danley issue citations to drivers who were stopped at a roadblock on Honoapiilani Highway near Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu on Saturday afternoon. Police said six drivers were cited for not having insurance cards Saturday at the roving checkpoints, which were set up in conjunction with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino’s public health emergency rules requiring that travel be limited to essential activities. Hawaii National Guard members with the 230th Engineer Company and a Haleakala National Park ranger joined police at the roadblock.

“The wait may be long because there are a lot of people still on the road that should not be,” according to a police news release.

The roadblocks are continuing, with police asking drivers who approach a roadblock to wait and follow officers’ instructions. Drivers should be prepared to have their driver’s licenses, registration and valid insurance, police said.

Police said drivers should be prepared to hold licenses and other paperwork so officers can clearly see names and expiration dates without touching documents.

At a roadblock Saturday afternoon on Honoapiilani Highway near Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu, officers and National Guard members were checking three vehicles at a time in both directions, with vehicles directed to pull over onto the shoulder when officers issued citations.

Six of the citations issued Saturday were for not having an insurance card. One citation was for violating the emergency rule prohibiting travel except for essential activities or business.

At a roadblock on Haleakala Highway at Keahua Road on Sunday afternoon, police officers reminded motorists about Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino’s emergency rules, including the travel limitations. Police didn’t ask for driver’s licenses or other documents at that roadblock.

“We’re trying to educate people as to whether or not they’re essential, making sure people are traveling for essential business only,” Sellers said. “We’re just trying to slow the curve.”

Other roadblocks were set up on Hana Highway near Baldwin Beach Park in Paia and at North Kihei Road in Maalaea.

At his COVID-19 update Monday, Victorino said checkpoints would be set up in Hana and Kahakuloa areas.

Victorino said he would announce today whether to extend a curfew that was in place from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Good Friday and Easter weekend.

He said there was “a lot of positive feedback” about the curfew, which he said seemed to curb the number of people out late at night.

One arrest for violating the emergency stay-at-home rules occurred at 11:38 p.m. Saturday when a Wailuku man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after a vehicle crash reported at Kahului Beach Road and Kanaloa Avenue in Wailuku, according to police.

Jessy Edwin, 28, was driving a vehicle that hit a traffic light signal at the intersection, police said.

Police reported seeing numerous beer cans and an open beer case in his vehicle.

Edwin was convicted of impaired driving on March 5, Deputy Prosecutor Brant Yoshimoto said during Edwin’s initial appearance Monday in Wailuku District Court.

“The state feels he’s a danger to society,” Yoshimoto said. “He was out past the curfew set by the mayor.”

Yoshimoto said Edwin’s blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.189 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Bail was set at $2,200 for Edwin, who is charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant, violating public health emergency rules, having an open alcohol container in his vehicle, inattention to driving, reckless driving, driving without a license, driving while his license was suspended or revoked for DUI and driving while his license was suspended or revoked.

Violating public health emergency rules is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. Those cited are given a date to appear in court.

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

A police sergeant directs drivers heading uphill at a roadblock on Haleakala Highway at Keahua Road on Sunday afternoon. Motorists were stopped in both directions of the highway and were reminded to be aware of Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino’s public health emergency rules, including one requiring that travel be limited to essential activities, operation of essential business or essential government function. The Maui News / LILA FUJIMOTO photos Keola Beamer will present a concert via YouTube at 2 p.m. Friday, teaming with Bhutanese musician Jigme Drukpa. He is shown with his wife, Moana. Jeff Peterson (from left), Paul Simon, Keola Beamer and Claudia Goddard pose for a photo. Simon appeared as a surprise teacher at the Aloha Music Camp Beamer conducted on Kauai.
Police Lt. Mark Vickers and Sgt. Dawn Danley issue citations to drivers who were stopped at a roadblock on Honoapiilani Highway near Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu on Saturday afternoon. Police said six drivers were cited for not having insurance cards Saturday at the roving checkpoints, which were set up in conjunction with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino’s public health emergency rules requiring that travel be limited to essential activities. Hawaii National Guard members with the 230th Engineer Company and a Haleakala National Park ranger joined police at the roadblock.

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