I remember on the PS2 I would favor use of the hunter for this type of task because I'd just blast missiles at the cars are grouped together each level, now in order to have access to the Hunter military helicopter you need to get gold in all tests of flight school, if you can manage that then Hunter will be at airstrip (you may have to leave and come back for it to spawn). Then just get in, fly up and trigger vigilante in the area so that way you're in dessert area.
Now do note that this is not necessarily going to be easy for everyone because you will need to be good with flying a helicopter and shooting missiles and eventually you'll have a high wanted level and can't just go into a pay and spray unless you want to land by one, find a non-cop vehicle, and do such. I personally managed to get 12 levels and pop the achievement but unlike the others (taxi, firetruck, paramedic) the levels kept going and I was already in a mayhem mood (KILL THEM ALL!) so I kept going and blew up at the end of level 18 flying through a casino on the strip. But still go achievement and a lot of money. So helicopter, tank or old school drive-by shooting and ramming your car into criminals, you have your options :)