What characterizes a linear (or line) patrol?

A linear patrol is characterized by patrolling a specific street or highway between two distinct points. This method provides a structured approach to monitoring a defined area, allowing officers to maintain visibility and respond quickly to incidents within that segment of roadway.

The focus on a linear route enhances the likelihood of detecting violations or hazardous situations, such as speeding or traffic accidents, which tend to occur along heavily traveled paths. It also facilitates effective communication and coordination among patrol units, as they have a clear and established route.

Other options depict different patrolling strategies. For instance, patrolling multiple cities at once implies a broader and less focused approach, which does not allow for the concentrated oversight that linear patrols provide. Random selection in patrolling is a method aimed at unpredictability and does not adhere to a defined route, while limiting patrols only to residential areas restricts the scope to specific environments, eliminating the strategic advantages of monitoring main thoroughfares and highways.