Five trends pertinent to VST over the next 10 years concern available fiscal resources, public perceptions of law enforcement, changes in policing philosophies, level of drug law enforcement, and level of private security participation in the law enforcement arena. High-probability future events include the government-mandated use of VST, the withholding of Federal funds due to traffic congestion and pollution, the occurrence of multiple terrorist acts, contracting out police services to private security, and police officer layoffs due to budget crises. The futures perspective on VST is examined in the context of a mid-sized police agency in Bakersfield, California, and the threat posed by VST to civil liberties is discussed. An appendix contains additional data on the futures study. References, tables, and figures