A police scanner is basically a radio scanner that is also a receiver that receives wireless radio signals. A scanner identifies these wireless radio waves. A scanner can identify numerous radio signals and bands concurrently making it easy to keep track of many channels simultaneously. The phrase “police scanner” derives from the fact that the majority of scanner users take pleasure in listening to police radio broadcast.

Police scanner codes vary from department to department. Most codes are reasonably standard, but a few of the codes are specific to the police department to which the user is listening.

Police Scanner Codes

Code 2 Urgent – no light or siren Code 3 Use lights and siren Code 4 No further assistance needed Code 5 Stakeout Code 6 Stay out of area Code 7 Meal break Code 8 Restroom break Code 9 Summer uniform Code 10 SWAT pre-call up Code 11 SWAT call up Code 37 Subject/property wanted

Police Scanner Ten Codes

10-00 Officer down, all patrols respond 10-0 Caution 10-1 Reception poor 10-2 Reception good 10-3 Stop transmitting 10-4 Message received, understood 10-5 Repay message 10-6 Change channel 10-7 Out of service 10-7A Out of service, home 10-7B Out of service, personal 10-8 In service 10-9 Repeat message 10-10 Off duty 10-10A Off duty, home 10-11 Identify frequency 10-12 Visitor(s) present 10-13 Weather and road advice 10-14 Citizen w/suspect 10-15 Prisoner in custody 10-16 Pick up prisoner 10-17 Request for gasoline 10-18 Equipment exchange 10-19 Return(ing) to station 10-20 Location 10-21 Telephone 10-21A Advise home I will return at ____ 10-22 Disregard last assignment 10-23 Stand by 10-24 Request car-to-car transmit 10-25 Do you have contact with ____ 10-26 Clear 10-27 D.D.L. report 10-28 Registration request 10-29 Check for wants 10-29F Subject wanted, felony 10-29H Hazard potential from subject 10-29M Subject wanted, misdemeanor 10-29V Vehicle wanted 10-30 Doesn’t conform to regulations 10-32 Drowning 10-33 Alarm sounding, audible 10-34 Assist at office 10-35 Time check 10-36 Confidential information 10-37 Identify operator 10-39 Can ____ come to the radio? 10-40 Is ____ available for phone call? 10-42 Check the welfare of/at ____ 10-43 Call a doctor 10-45 Condition of patient? 10-45A Condition of patient: good 10-45B Condition of patient: serious 10-45C Condition of patient: critical 10-45D Condition of patient: dead 10-49 Proceed to ____ 10-50 Under influence of drugs 10-51 Drunk 10-52 Resuscitator 10-53 Man down 10-54 Possible dead body 10-55 Coroner case 10-56 Suicide 10-56A Suicide attempt 10-57 Missing person 10-59 Security check 10-60 Lock-out 10-61 Miscellaneous public service 10-62 Meet a citizen 10-62A Take a report from a citizen 10-62B Civilian standby 10-63 Prepare to copy 10-64 Found property 10-66 Suspicious person 10-67 Person calling for help 10-68 Telephone for police 10-70 Prowler 10-71 Shooting 10-72 Gun involved 10-73 How do you receive? 10-79 Bomb threat 10-80 Explosion 10-86 Any radio traffic? 10-88 Assume post 10-91 Animal 10-91A Animal, stray 10-91B Animal, noisy 10-91C Animal, injured 10-91D Animal, dead 10-91E Animal, bite 10-91G Animal, pickup 10-91J Animal, pickup collect 10-91L Animal, leash law violation 10-91V Animal, vicious 10-95 Requesting ID tech unit 10-97 Arrived at scene 10-98 Available to assign 10-99 Warrants or stolen vehicle indicated 10-100 Misdemeanor warrant 10-109 Suicide 10-200 Drugs involved 10-600 Livestock down 10-1000 Felony warrant

Police Scanner Eleven Codes

11-10 Take report 11-24 Abandoned vehicle 11-25 Traffic hazard 11-26 Abandoned bicycle 11-27 D.D.L. report with driver held 11-28 Registration request with driver held 11-40 Advise if ambulance needed 11-41 Ambulance needed 11-42 No ambulance needed 11-48 Furnish transportation 11-51 Escort 11-52 Funeral detail 11-54 Suspicious vehicle 11-55 Officer being followed by auto 11-56 Office being followed by auto dangerous persons 11-57 Unidentified auto at assignments 11-58 Radio monitored, use phone 11-59 Intensive attention: high hazard, business areas 11-60 Attack in high hazard area 11-65 Signal light out 11-66 Defective traffic signal light 11-78 Aircraft accident 11-79 Accident – ambulance sent 11-80 Accident – major injuries 11-81 Accident – minor injuries 11-82 Accident – no injuries 11-83 Accident – no detail 11-84 Manual traffic control requested 11-85 Tow truck requested 11-86 Bomb threat 11-87 Bomb found 11-94 Pedestrian stop 11-95 Routine traffic stop 11-96 Checking suspicious vehicle 11-97 Time/security check on patrol 11-98 Meet ____ 11-99 Under attack, immediate assistace required!

Police Scanner Penal Codes

187 Homicide 207 Kidnapping 207A Kidnapping attempt 211 Robbery 211A Robbery alarm 211S Robbery alarm, silent 217 Assault with intent to murder 240 Assault 242 Battery 245 Assault with a deadly weapon 246 Shooting at inhabited dwelling 261 Rape 261A Attempted rape 273A Child neglect 273D Felony wife beating 288 Lewd conduct 311 Indecent exposure 314 Indecent exposure 374B Illegal dumping 390 Drunk 390D Drunk, unconscious 415 Disturbance 417 Person with a gun 417A Person with a knife 459 Burglary 459A Burglar alarm 459S Burglar alarm, silent 470 Forgery 480 Hit and run, felony 481 Hit and run, misdemeanor 484 Petty theft 487 Grand theft 488 Petty theft 502 Drunk driving 503 Auto theft 504 Tampering with a vehicle 505 Reckless driving 507 Public nuisance 510 Speeding or racing vehicles 586 Illegal parking 594 Malicious mischief 595 Runaway car 604 Throwing missiles 647 Lewd conduct 653M Threatening phone calls 5150 Mental case 10851 Auto theft 10852 Tampering with vehicle 20001 Hit and run, felony 20002 Hit and run, misdemeanor 20007 Hit and run, unattended 21958 Drunk pedestrian on roadway 22350 Speeding 22500 Illegal parking 23101 Drunk driving – injuries 23102 Drunk driving 23103 Reckless driver 23104 Reckless driver 23105 Driver under narcotics 23109 Racing 23110 Person throwing objects at vehicles 23151 Drunk driving – injuries 23152 Drunk driver

Police Scanner Color Codes

Code Blue Bus or taxi in trouble Code Red VARDA (Voice Activated Radio Dispatched Alarm) activated Code Purple Gang activity

Medical / Fire Status Codes

Code 10 Critical trauma case Code 20 Acute trauma case Code 30 Trauma case Code 40 Serious case (IV started) Code 50 Basic transport (not serious) Code N Newsworthy event

Additional Reading on Police Scanner Codes