How to Reduce Your Wanted Level in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

The stars on your screen are a measure of how much the police want Tommy Vercetti's blood. One or two stars is a little trouble, and six stars means the National Guard and tanks are after you. There are several ways to reduce your Wanted Level, most of which do not involve cheating. This could and probably will save your life!

Instructions

1. Wait. If you've only got 1 star, simply avoid injuring anyone (shooting, hitting, running over, etc.) and it will disappear after a minute or two. Just keep moving and avoid the police.

2. Snag a helicopter. This is only a temporary measure, but it will prevent the police from shooting you. At the very least, it will buy you time to find something else.

3. Find a clothing shop. There are several of these stores throughout Vice City, all of which are marked on your map. There is also a change of clothes at your primary hideout (the hotel on Ocean Beach.) Changing clothes reduces your Wanted Level by 1 star.

4. Hunt for a floating star. The easiest and one of the first one you'll find is on a grassy triangle area just north of The Malibu dance club. Its on the grass at the intersection of 2 roads. Grabbing this star, or any like it will completely eliminate ALL of your Wanted stars!

5. Seek out a Pay'N'Spray. As in GTA 3, these shops will give your current car a facelift and a new paint job for a modest fee. This will also eliminate your Wanted Level.

6. Die. Believe it or not, it is sometimes advantageous to let yourself expire and wake up at the hospital. While this does cost you some cash and removes all your weapons and armor, it can sometimes put you a lot closer to your objective than you would've been otherwise and if you're avoiding cheating, sometimes this is the only way to get rid of all those Wanted stars.

7. Cheat. If you are not averse to bending the rules a little, punch in R1, R2, O, R2, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down.