Police code
A police code is a numerical brevity code for a crime, incident, or instructions for police officers.
Canada
Code | Description |
---|---|
121 | Priority on the air |
122 | Priority on silence |
123 | Sick or injured person |
124 | Operation completed |
125 | Operation continued |
126 | Intercept suspect |
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/Family feuding |
149 | Ascertainment |
150 | Theft |
United States
California
The Hundred Code is a three digit police code system.[1] This code is usually pronounced digit-by-digit, using a radio alphabet for any letters, as 505 "five zero five" or 207A "two zero seven Alpha". The following codes are used in California. They are from the California Penal Code except where noted below.
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 around the country. This led to widespread use of California Penal Codes as radio codes.
Code | Description |
---|---|
187 | Murder |
207 | Kidnapping |
207A | Kidnapping attempt |
211 | Robbery |
211A | Robbery alarm |
211S | Robbery alarm, silent |
212 | Illegal use of drugs |
213 | Use of illegal explosives |
214 | Kidnapping and murder |
215 | Carjacking |
216 | Child Abuse |
217 | Assault with intent to murder |
218 | Sexual activity with a minor |
219 | Cutting or Stabbing |
240 | Assault |
241 | Impaling |
242 | Battery |
243 | Battery with dangerous weapons |
244 | Murder with Illegal weapons |
245 | Assault with a deadly weapon |
246 | Shooting at inhabited dwelling |
261 | Rape |
261A | Attempted rape |
273A | Child neglect |
273D | Domestic violence – Felony |
288 | Lewd conduct |
311 | Child pornography |
314 | Indecent exposure |
374B | Illegal dumping |
390 | Drunk |
390D | Drunk, unconscious |
415 | Disturbance |
417 | Person with a gun |
417K | Person with a knife |
417B | Person with bomb |
428 | Child molest |
444 | Officer-involved shooting |
459 | Burglary |
459A | Burglar alarm |
459S | Burglar alarm, silent |
470 | Forgery |
480 | Hit and run – Felony (great bodily injury or death) |
481 | Hit and run – Misdemeanor |
484 | Theft (definition) |
486 | Major Theft (value < 10,000) |
487 | Grand theft (value > $950, or certain livestock) |
488 | Petty theft (value < $950) |
501 | Drunk driving – felony (great bodily injury or death) |
502 | Drunk driving |
503 | Auto theft |
504 | Tampering with a vehicle |
505A | Reckless driving |
507 | Public nuisance |
510 | Speeding or racing vehicles |
586 | Illegal parking |
594 | Malicious mischief |
604 | Throwing object |
647 | Lewd conduct (various subsections) |
653M | Threatening phone calls |
"500" codes are only radio codes that substitute for other code sections. For example, a "503" is not Penal Code section 503 (embezzlement). All of the "500" codes, generally, involve vehicles and are thus grouped together (except 594, which is an actual Penal Code section). Additionally, "390" and variants are also radio codes only (CPC 647(f) is the legally enforced section "public intoxication").
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 current vehicle code numbers while municipal and county police agencies, especially the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) still use the 500 series.
Old | New | Description |
---|---|---|
480 | 20001 | Felony Hit and Run |
481 | 20002 | Misdemeanor Hit and Run |
501 | 23151 | Felony Drunk Driving |
502 | 23152 | Misdemeanor Drunk Driving[2] |
503 | 10851 | Stolen Vehicle (also a penal code section, 487A) |
504 | 10854 | Tampering with a Motor Vehicle |
505 | 23103 | Reckless Driving |
510 | 23109 | Speed Contest / Racing |
586 | 22500 | Illegal Parking |
Austin
The following codes are used in Austin, Texas.
10-0 | Caution |
10-1 | Unable to Copy |
10-2 | Signal Good |
10-3 | Stop Transmitting |
10-4 | Acknowledgment (OK) |
10-5 | Relay |
10-6 | Busy – Unless Urgent |
10-7 | Out of Service |
10-8 | In Service |
10-9 | Repeat |
10-10 | Fight in Progress |
10-11 | Dog Case |
10-12 | Stand By (Stop) |
10-13 | Weather – Road Report |
10-14 | Prowler Report |
10-15 | Civil Disturbance |
10-16 | Domestic Problem |
10-17 | Meet Complaint |
10-18 | Quickly |
10-19 | Return to ___ |
10-20 | Location |
10-21 | Call...By Telephone |
10-22 | Disregard |
10-23 | Arrived at Location |
10-24 | Assignment Completed |
10-25 | Report in Person (Meet) |
10-26 | Detaining Subject: Expedite |
10-27 | D.L. Information |
10-28 | Vehicle Registration Info. |
10-29 | Check for Wanted/Stolen |
10-30 | Unnecessary Use of the Radio |
10-31 | Crime in Progress |
10-32 | Subject with a Gun |
10-33 | Emergency |
10-34 | Riot |
10-35 | Major Crime Alert |
10-36 | Correct Time |
10-37 | Investigate Suspicious Vehicle |
10-38 | Stopping Suspicious Vehicle |
10-39 | Urgent – Use Lights/Siren |
10-40 | Silent Run– No Lights/Siren |
10-41 | Beginning Tour of Duty |
10-42 | Ending Tour of Duty |
10-43 | Information |
10-44 | Permission to Leave For ___ |
10-45 | Animal Carcass |
10-46 | Assist Motorist |
10-47 | Emergency Road Repair at ___ |
10-48 | Traffic Standard Repair at ___ |
10-49 | Traffic Light Out at___ |
10-50 | Collision |
10-51 | Wrecker Needed |
10-52 | Ambulance |
10-53 | Road Block at ___ |
10-54 | Livestock on Highway |
10-55 | Intoxicated Driver |
10-56 | Intoxicated Pedestrian |
10-57 | Leaving the Scene Collision |
10-58 | Direct Traffic |
10-59 | Convoy or Escort |
10-60 | Squad in Vicinity |
10-61 | Personnel in Area |
10-62 | Reply to Message |
10-63 | Prepare to Make Written Copy |
10-64 | Message – Local Delivery |
10-65 | Net Message Assignment |
10-66 | Message Cancellation |
10-67 | Clear for Net Message |
10-68 | Dispatch Information |
10-69 | Message Received |
10-70 | Fire Alarm |
10-71 | Advise Nature of Fire |
10-72 | Report Progress of Fire |
10-73 | Smoke Report |
10-74 | Negative |
10-75 | Make Backup |
10-76 | En Route to __ |
10-77 | ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) |
10-78 | Need Assistance |
10-79 | Notify Coroner |
10-80 | Chase in Progress |
10-81 | Breathalyzer Report |
10-82 | Reserve Lodging |
10-83 | Work School Crossing at__ |
10-84 | If Meeting...Advise ETA |
10-85 | Delayed Due to ___ |
10-86 | Officer/Operator on Duty |
10-87 | Pickup/Distribute Checks |
10-88 | Present Telephone Number of ___ |
10-89 | Bomb Threat |
10-90 | Bank Alarm at ___ |
10-91 | Pick Up Prisoner/Subject |
10-92 | Improperly Parked Vehicle |
10-93 | Blockade |
10-94 | Drag Racing |
10-95 | Prisoner/Subject in Custody |
10-96 | Subject with Mental Illness |
10-97 | Check Signal (Test) |
10-98 | Prison/Jail Break |
10-99 | Wanted/Stolen Indicated |
10-99#1 | #1 – Class C Misdemeanor |
10-99#2 | #2 – Class A or B Misdemeanor |
10-99#3 | #3 – Felony |
References and notes
- "Police Codes Explained".
- A 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.
External links
- "Police Scanner Codes Site". PoliceCodes.org.
- "Radio and Identification codes". Mendosa.com.