The Loot

Do you use a custom popcycle mod that adds cops to traffic? That can be a big part of how many ambient units join in a chase, and considering LSPDFR is designed mostly for an unmodified game (so they don't have to try to deal with all the various ways changes to the game can mess things up; their apparent plans for supporting things from the RDE mod is kind of surprising), its really could be an unintended effect of 3rd-party changes. Now, it's not to say that things currently happening with the mod aren't at fault. I don't know if certain callouts are set up to have multiple units spawn immediately, or if persistence issues are causing far more units to be on the map than intended. I've personally noticed the latter a lot.

They definitely spawn too close many times, even if it's because they're the first to be called. Also, I wonder if ambient spawned officers that join count towards that system or not. All units could use a larger distance and delay, too, especially SWAT and Air units.

Hmm, rereading it that probably is the case, just the ways things were worded makes it seem like its something separate.

I know of that one, and I'm sure that's a separate thing to what was described in the OP. That seems like a designed survival mode instead of simply turning over control of the games police peds to LSPDFR's code during a wanted level.

Speaking of showing, anyone found out how to activate the "player chase" easter egg, or at least a video of someone messing around with it?

The carvariations file for the original game vehicles is still in an encrypted format, and cannot be viewed or edited. However, any carvariations.meta file you find from any of the DLC packs can have a new entry that will override any previous ones. Make sure you look up the info on adding emergency vehicles so you get the settings right, though.

The default model is not mapped in a way that can be saved.

There are programs out there that will compare text-based files for differences. Notepad++ has a "Compare" plugin.

Rule of thumb is to install all modified model and/or texture files in the latest compatible patchday, which will ensure they get loaded instead of anything previous.

So, from the sounds of it, this is a "scenario" script, but nothing to do with the wanted system? Was kind of hoping for a script that would allow finer control of the game's wanted dispatch, like LSPDFR's planned 3.0 feature. Pretty cool, though.

The original carvariations file is still an encrypted ymt file, so you can't directly edit it. However, any DLC carvariations you find will override the original vehicle entry if you make a new one in them.

If all else fails, you can always install all vehicles in the latest patch file.

Who doesn't want to go at a drug-crazed maniac who doesn't know when to quit?

Somewhere in a file there's probably the parameters of the ARMY group, along with others, that you'd have to change. I'm going to assume it's in a yet-to-be-decrypted ymt file or similar, or buried in another file no one has messed with.

The SAHP have had a white unmarked police4 cruiser since the initial release, yes.

Absolutely copy the police3 meta entry if the car was supposed to replace it.