The Honolulu Police Department's weekly posting of mug shots of DUI arrests on its website continues to gain popularity with internet users. It's not the only site that's a hit on the web.
Believe it or not thousands wait with high anticipation for mug shots of DUI arrests that are posted each Wednesday on HPD's website. Word is some offices even hold release parties to see who's been caught.
"I'm kind of excited that that's happening, because the whole object of posting the sites, is to shame people into not driving drunk and if it's spreading that can only be good," said Arkie Koehl, MADD Hawaii Operations Council Chairman.
And word is spreading much faster thanks to a popular social networking site. DUI Wednesdays has a Facebook fan page.
"It is relatively new, what we do appreciate at MADD is that it's created a huge amount of dialogue in terms of the issue of drunk driving," said Jennifer Dotson, MADD Hawaii Executive Director.
MADD is not affiliated with the page nor is HPD but thousands are. The site has about 8,000 fans and is growing by the hour.
"What we also like about the Facebook page DUI Wednesdays is that it's hitting a target demographic of savvy internet users," said Dotson.
The creator of the page says it was done to spread the word about the dangers of drinking and driving and the consequences of getting caught.
"We do feel that it is making people think twice absolutely," said Dotson.
The Facebook fan page features mug shots but unlike the HPD website these photos are not removed after 24 hours.
"It's people talking about the issue, it's raw, it's real time," said Dotson.
Critics say the site only embarrasses those who've been arrested.
"We don't have research to show whether posting mug shots is an effective deterrent or not, intuitively we at MADD think it is," said Koehl.
Others say doctoring pictures goes too far.
"That's the nature of Facebook, that is the nature of Facebook," said Dotson. "Again people are very expressive very honest with their opinions and again we appreciate the dialogue that's occurring."
