How to Talk in Police 10 Codes

Police code is used to describe situations to emergency personnel. The code is confusing for an outsider to understand because it's populated with an array of numbers and letters. While more police departments are moving away from the use of code so departments can communicate with each other, it stays alive in the truck driving world and among ham radio users. Anyone can learn to translate police code with a little study.

Things You'll Need

• CB radio, police scanner or ham radio

Instructions

How to Talk in Police Code

1. Find a good source of police code. Your best bet is to find an Internet source that is clear and easy to read (see Resources).

2. Study the police codes, making note of the various "types" of codes. While codes vary by location and region, many are universal. Police codes can be divided up into several categories:
   • Ten codes refer to terms such as 10-4 ("OK") and 10-20 ("location").
   • Abbreviations are codes such as BOLA ("be on the look out") and ADW ("assault with a deadly weapon").
   • Other codes begin with "code," such as code 10 ("bomb threat") and code 30 ("officer needs assistance").
   • Penal codes are often used in police code, such as 11357H&S ("possession of marijuana") and 148 ("resisting arrest").
   • Codes for work shifts, positions of authority or police divisions, such as Units Charlie ("day shift") and Victor ("vice/narcotics").
   Police and emergency personnel talk phonetically. For instance, when calling out a license plate, authorities are likely to say Adam Charlie Victor 898 for the plate that reads ACV898. Police use military time; 0100 hours is 1 a.m. and 1330 is 1:30 p.m.

3. Practice at every opportunity. Buy a police scanner or borrow one. Listen to a CB radio, especially to channel 9, which is the police emergency station on the CB.

4. Write down codes that you are unfamiliar with. Translate them when you have time, then use them to become familiar with them. Fluency will come with practice. While the list might seem overwhelming, concentrate on learning a few at a time. At some point, when you listen to the emergency radios, you will know exactly what is going on.

Tips & Warnings

• While it is interesting to listen to, read, understand and talk in police code, never disrupt emergency traffic on the scanner or radio, and never broadcast on such a channel. It is important that only emergency personnel communicate on the police radios and emergency forums. To interrupt the emergency traffic is a crime.

References

• PoliceCodes.Org

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Police Codes and Abbreviations
• Police Scanner Codes List