A police radio code is a brevity code, usually numerical or alphanumerical, used to transmit information between law enforcement over police radio systems in the United States. Examples of police codes include "10 codes" (such as 10-4 for "okay" or "acknowledged"—sometimes written X4 or X-4), signals, incident codes, response codes, or other status codes. These code types may be used in the same sentence to describe specific aspects of a situation.
Codes vary by country, administrative subdivision, and agency. It is rare to find two agencies with the same ten codes, signals, incident codes, or other status codes. While agencies with adjacent or overlapping jurisdictions often have similar codes, it is not uncommon to find differences even within one county or city. Different agencies can have codes dissimilar enough to make communication difficult. There are similarities among popular sets of 10-codes.
The topic of standardized codes has been discussed in US law enforcement circles, but there is no consensus on the issue. Some law enforcement agencies use “plain talk” or “plain codes” which replace codes with standard speech and terminology, albeit in a structured manner or format. Arguments against plain language include its lack of brevity, variability, and lack of secrecy which is often tactically advantageous or a safety issue when officer communications can be overheard by the civilian public.
Examples
| 2 | No lights or sirens |
| 3 | Lights and sirens |
| 4 | Disregard |
| 121 | Priority on the air |
| 122 | Priority on silence |
| 123 | Sick or injured person |
| 124 | Operation completed |
| 125 | Operation continue |
| 126 | Intercept suspects |
| 127 | Proceed with caution |
| 128 | No siren, no flashing |
| 129 | Request back up |
| 130 | Emergency |
| 131 | Shooting |
| 132 | Armed robbery |
| 133 | Possibly dangerous person |
| 134 | Kidnapping |
| 135 | Escape |
| 136 | Hold of hostages |
| 137 | Riot |
| 138 | Bomb alert |
| 139 | Air disaster |
| 140 | Murder |
| 141 | Accident |
| 142 | Unlawful assembly |
| 143 | Hit and run |
| 144 | Impaired |
| 145 | Prisoner transport |
| 146 | Breaking and entering (vehicle or residence) |
| 147 | Suspect armed |
| 148 | Brawl or family feuding |
| 149 | Ascertainment |
| 150 | Theft |
California
In the 1970s, the television show Adam-12 was considered so authentic in its portrayal of Los Angeles PD officers and their procedures that excerpts from the shows were used as police training films nationwide. This led to the widespread use of California Penal Codes as radio codes.
| Murder | |
| Kidnapping | |
| Kidnapping attempt | |
| Robbery | |
| Robbery alarm | |
| Robbery alarm, silent | |
| Illegal use of drugs | |
| Use of illegal explosives | |
| Kidnapping and murder | |
| Carjacking | |
| Child abuse | |
| Assault with intent to murder | |
| Sexual activity with a minor | |
| Cutting or stabbing | |
| Assault | |
| Impaling | |
| Battery | |
| Battery with dangerous weapons | |
| Throwing acid with intent to disfigure or burn | |
| Assault with a deadly weapon | |
| Shooting at inhabited dwelling | |
| Rape | |
| Attempted rape | |
| Child neglect | |
| Domestic violence – felony | |
| Lascivious with a minor | |
| Possession of obscene material | |
| Indecent exposure | |
| Illegal dumping | |
| Drunk | |
| Drunk, unconscious | |
| Disturbance | |
| Person with a gun | |
| Person with a knife | |
| Person with bomb | |
| Dead human body | |
| Child molest | |
| Officer-involved shooting | |
| Burglary | |
| Burglar alarm | |
| Burglar alarm, silent | |
| Forgery | |
| Hit and run – felony (great bodily injury or death) | |
| Hit and run – misdemeanor | |
| Major theft (value > $10,000) | |
| Grand theft (value > $950, or certain livestock) | |
| Petty theft (value < $950) | |
| Drunk driving – felony (great bodily injury or death) | |
| Drunk driving | |
| Auto theft | |
| Tampering with a vehicle | |
| Reckless driving | |
| Public nuisance | |
| Speeding or racing vehicles | |
| Illegal parking | |
| Malicious mischief | |
| Throwing object | |
| Lewd conduct (various subsections) | |
| Threatening phone calls | |
| Officer involved shooting |
500 codes and similar
In California, some radio codes in the 400–599 range that refer to vehicle violations are left over from the California Vehicle Code (CVC) which was revised in 1971. Some agencies, such as the California Highway Patrol (CHP) use the vehicle code numbers while municipal and county police agencies, especially the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) still use the 500 series.
| Felony hit and run |
| Misdemeanor hit and run |
| Felony drunk driving |
| Misdemeanor drunk drivingA drunk driver is often referred to as a "deuce". This comes from the "2" at the end of the original code, "502", which subsequent codes have retained. |
| Stolen vehicle (also a penal code section, 487A) |
| Tampering with a motor vehicle |
| Reckless driving |
| Speed contest / racing |
| Illegal parking |
See also
- Emergency service response codes
- APCO phonetic alphabet
- ICAO spelling alphabet
- Ten-code
External links
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