How it starts

Speed past a cop

A patrol only reacts to what it sees: a car going too fast on its street, or round the corner it is standing at.

1. 01They notice

   Over 56 km/h on the speedometer in a cop's sight. Their lights come on and they follow you. No siren yet: one star is a warning look.
2. 02Slow down, and it's over

   Drop under the limit for five seconds, or stop beside them, and you're let off with a warning. Nothing to pay.
3. 03Keep going, and it's a chase

   Still speeding three seconds later, or ram a cop: two stars, sirens, and backup on the way.

Heat

The five stars

Your heat is how badly they want you. Two stars is a chase. Keep driving in their sight, neither stopping nor shaking them, and the stars climb on their own, each one bringing more of the force.

1. NoticedAnyone

   HowDriving over 56 km/h where a cop can see you, or ramming a cop car. A loaded gun run is one star all the way.

   Who comesThe cop who saw you follows, lights on, no siren.

2. PursuitAnyone

   HowStill speeding three seconds later, or ramming a cop while they're on you.

   Who comes2 units, sirens on. Drop under the limit and you have about 6 seconds to pull over; drive on and they tap your bumper and box you in.

3. WantedAnyone

   How30 seconds in their sight at two stars, neither stopping nor shaking them.

   Who comes3 units: flankers, PITs that spin your car, and full roadblocks on the road ahead.

4. Most WantedAnyone

   How40 seconds more in their sight.

   Who comes4 units, and backup every few seconds.

5. KingpinAnyone

   How50 seconds more in their sight.

   Who comes4 units, roadblocks and the helicopter.

The next star fills from the bottom while they can see you, twice as fast at 65 km/h or more. Out of their sight it runs back down, so a driver who keeps breaking their line of sight doesn't climb. With the Burner on, ramming a cop adds a star at once.

The chase

What the police are doing

The strip by your minimap says where you stand at every moment: seen, being searched for, or clear.

• SPOTTEDOne star, and a cop is watching you. Slow down under the limit for five seconds and it's a warning, or get out of their sight.
• CHASEDTwo stars or more, and a cop (or the helicopter) can see you. Break their line of sight: turn off their street and put buildings between you.
• TRACKEDThe alarm's out on a hot contract load of three stars or more: they know where you are and units are on the way. Nothing to lose yet. Once one has found you, break their line of sight.
• SEARCHINGThey lost sight of you. The amber search area on your map is where they're looking. Stay out of sight while the green bar fills.
• COPS BUSYYou're wanted, but every unit has a job. Stay out of sight and it clears by itself, unless a free patrol sees you.
• HOT CARGOGoods aboard and nobody after you. Any cop who sees you starts a chase at once.
• YOU LOST THEMThe bar filled. The heat is gone, the units switch their lights off and go back to patrol, and the cops leave you alone for a while.

Losing them

Ways out

Getting out of sight is the whole game. Here are the ways to do it, from the honest to the sneaky.

• Break their sight

  Turn off their street and keep turning. The tunnel under the avenues is off their map, and the helicopter can't see into it either.

• Switch cars

  Out of sight, put your car away and get a different one out of your garage. They're looking for the other car: two stars come off.

• Go home

  Stop at your own tower's door, out of their sight, for five seconds. Up to three stars, that's the end of it.

• Take off or race

  Board an aircraft or start a street race and the heat is gone. It doesn't count as getting away, though.

• Pull over

  Stop for them and take the ticket: half the price of a bust. The next page has the stop in full.

  Getting stopped
• Get away clean

  Lose a chase of two stars or more and it counts on the Escapes board on the street (B). From three stars it pays City Rank XP too.

Off duty

Who they leave alone

The police are for drivers who choose to floor it, not for anyone's first evening.

• New in townYour first 10 minutes in the city, and until City Rank 3. Nobody's first evening ends in a cell.
• On foot and passengersSpeed is a driving rule. A passenger is never fined. (Jump out of a wanted car and you're a suspect on foot for 30 seconds.)
• RacingCops can't see you during a street race. Starting one sheds your heat.
• FlyingAn aircraft is never a suspect. Taking off sheds your heat (the fighter's rockets are another story).
• The spawn plazaNo patrols near where you arrive, so nobody is chased the moment they land in town.
• After a chaseLose them or get let off and the police leave you alone for 5 minutes; after a fine or time, 10 minutes.

What next

When they catch up

Next: chases, getting busted and the lock-up.