POLICE CARS OF THE 1970'S WERE NOT ADEQUATE, AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE HAS ESTABLISHED A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS LABORATORY IN GAITHERSBURG, MD., TO EVALUATE AND TEST POLICE EQUIPMENT. SEVERAL DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE LABORATORY THAT DEAL WITH POLICE PATROL CARS (SIRENS AND EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS, RADIAL TIRES, AND LIFE CYCLE COSTING). KEY ELEMENTS IN AN IDEAL CAR ARE 4 DOORS, AIR CONDITIONING, POWER STEERING, HEAVY-DUTY SUSPENSION WITH OVERLOAD HELPERS, AUTOMATIC HEAVY-DUTY TRANSMISSION, 350-HP ENGINE, 4-BARREL CARBURETOR, FRONT DISC BRAKES, AND TRIPLE VALVES. OTHER DESIRABLE FEATURES INCLUDE DUAL MASTER CYLINDERS, PUSH BARS ATTACHED TO FRAME, REAR LEAF SPRING AND FRONT TORSION BARS, POSI-TRACTION, ANTISKID STABILIZERS, AND COIL AND MESH SEATS, AS WELL AS ADEQUATE HEAD ROOM, LOW THRESHOLD, AND QUICK RELEASE SEAT BELT/HARNESS. THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE SYSTEM SHOULD INCLUDE FORWARD-DIRECTED SIREN, RED WARNING LIGHTS, INCREASED LIGHT OUTPUT (STROBE), AND MULTIPLE LIGHTS. VEHICLE COMPONENTS (ENGINE, BRAKES, FRAME, SUSPENSION, INTERIOR, AND WARNING SYSTEM) ARE DETAILED. SELECTED REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)