Season 1 of Patlabor: The Mobile Police premiered on April 25, 1988.

At the end of the 20th century a massive building program is started due to rising sea levels. As part of this building program labor construction robots are built. These robots are not only used for construction though, the new technology also brings forth a new type of crime - Labor Crime. To cope with this new type of crime the police set up a Pat[rol] Labor division: "Special Vehicles, Section 2".

What are the Members of the newly established Second Unit supposed to do? They've been ordered to apprehend a terrorist Labor -- and their new Labors are stuck in traffic en route from the factory!