1) I use to drive to the police station to start a shift but now I just do "force duty" and spawn a police character and car with SNT. I have every police station saved in SNT as a teleport location if I want to move around quickly.
2) Yes I use modded vehicles, Police = Slicktop CVPI, Pol2 = CVPI w/Whelen Justice, Noose = Charger w/Whelen Justice, FBI = CVPI w/Tomar Blade, PolPatriot = BxBugs newly released 2010 Unmarked Tahoe. <Favorite car ATM
3) I love ELS, I think it makes the game experience so much more enjoyable. I've never played w/o it and never will. No damage and the door bug is alright with me.
4) I prefer to patrol Algonquin and Dukes/Broker. Depends on what I'm wanting to do also, ie arrest prostitutes, speeders.
5) Advanced car control mod, lots of texture changes to vehicles/character models, Sams Area Livery mod, gun flashlight mod, less overtake, radar mod.
I play hardcore mode, when someone flees I don't like having a dot showing where they are. I think it takes away the realism and adds some difficulty so you have to watch where they go and drive more cautious so you don't crash and lose them. I like to patrol around at night, sit and try and catch speeders, traffic violations, equipment violations. Go unmarked and arrest guys who pick up hookers. Sometimes I'll accept calls but not to often. I just like to respond to a shots fired call or shoot-out in progress call once and awhile. "Suspects fleeing" is a fun call to.