In all GTA games from the 3D era, the wanted level is measured in a six-stars scale.

In every games, accomplishing a mission will always clear any wanted level, except after the Dam & Blast mission in San Andreas. To stop any pursuit, the player must lose their wanted level.

The higher is the wanted level, the more the police want the protagonist dead, and so the more are the resources mobilized. It is an indicator which appears on the HUD (usually in the top-right corner).

When the protagonist is wanted by law enforcement, they will earn a wanted level. Some offenses are specific from a game: for instance, drug dealing in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Also, cops will often appear (almost always as antagonists) in some scripted missions. In every Grand Theft Auto game, cops will pursue the player for the following offenses: discharging a firearm, stamping or smashing a police car, killing an NPC, setting fire on an area with a Molotov cocktail, detonating a grenade, exploding vehicles, crushing many pedestrians, stealing a car (or attempting to do so - in the case of some locked vehicles) or trespassing some restricted areas (like Area 69 in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas). For instance, crossing a red light (even recklessly) in car won't make policemen pursue the player (even if the protagonist is guilty of causing the accident), but discharging a firearm in public or near a cop will. Policemen on foot and police squads will often appear in the streets of the Grand Theft Auto's world, and will spot any player who commits a 'major' offense. 3.11 San Andreas Police Department (3D Universe).3.3 Liberty City Police Department (HD Universe).

2 Notable GTA characters in the police force.

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