What is a Police Scanner?
A police scanner is a radio receiver able to tune or scan frequencies. It monitors UHF and VHF hand-held mobile radio systems. It can receive messages one at a time, and send out multiple signals at the same time. A scanner device is further enhanced with the use of codes, like number or color codes. To reduce the negative effects of radio static, short codes are used. Police scanner color codes reduce sentences and phrases into two-word signals.
Some Common 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 Color Codes
Police scanner color codes have been a great help in police emergency operations for years. Also known as an efficient mode of radio communication among ten-eleven codes, police scanner color codes have saved countless lives and properties.
A robber on the run is escaping from law enforcers and jumps into a public bus. The passengers are in danger and more police back-up is needed. An officer reaches out for the radio in the police car unit and says, “We have a code blue.” Then the officer adds other details. This is how police scanner color codes are used in an actual police emergency.
What are Police Scanner Color Codes?
These are among 10-11 (ten-eleven) codes that identify radio frequency quickly. They also enable law enforcers and other relief or rescue operators to report situational updates and receive instructions. For requesting immediate help fast, like police back-up, police scanner color codes are also used. There are, to date, only three color ten-eleven codes.
What are the Three Scanner Color Codes?
- Code Blue – Bus or taxi in trouble
- Code Red – VARDA (Voice Activated Radio Dispatched Alarm) activated
- Code Purple – Gang activity
First, Code Blue. This indicates that a public vehicle, like a bus or cab, is in trouble. Like in the example above, police operatives need not say, “We have trouble here. An armed suspect boarded a bus and is endangering the passengers.” All the law enforcer has to say over the radio is, “We have a code blue.” Police scanner color codes make reporting and updating fast and easy.
Second, Code Red. It means the Varda alarm has been set off. VARDA is an acronym that means Voice Activated Radio Dispatch Alarm. It is placed or installed on an object, like a car engine or chassis. When someone moves the car unaware, an alarm is automatically set off at a nearby police station. A voice recording programmed to announce ten-eleven codes will be sent to all police car units and an officer will be dispatched to the site immediately. Police scanner color codes enables law enforcers to act fast within minutes.
Third, Code Purple. When a mob or gang in a neighborhood gets violent or threatening, and it is reported to the station, a code purple is sent to all units. Any available unit should respond at once to the scene. Or, if a lone law enforcer sees a gang activity, immediate back-up should be requested by merely saying the code and location details. Police scanner color codes and other ten-eleven codes make a potential danger easy to contain within minutes.
Police Scanner Penal Codes
When trouble strikes, fast and efficient police response is of utmost importance. Reporting the situation to police headquarters in a long-winded or rambling way will not do. Thus, practical police scanner penal codes were formulated for fast and efficient police radio communication.
For Criminal Acts
Police scanner penal codes are designed to be used during monitoring of or pursuing suspected criminal elements. When surveying acts worthy of punishment by the law, and especially when danger seems inevitable or impending, police radio communication uses police scanner penal codes. This makes radio conversations efficient and fast. Among criminal activities monitored with penal codes are homicide, kidnapping, robbery, assault, rape, and illegal possession of arms, among others.
Some Penal Codes Exclusive to Some Departments
Some police scanner penal codes are common to various police departments, while others are exclusive to a particular department or station. Some state law enforcers may use a different police radio communication signal from another. Similarly, some scanner codes used by police departments, fire departments, and rescue and relief teams, differ from each other. This is due to some special tasks specific to the nature of their work. Ambulances, fire trucks, tow trucks, and police car units, for instance, have different uses, though all are for emergency uses. Hence, they use different radio communication signals.
Among common codes used for penal monitoring purposes is code 217. When a pre-meditated murder is in progress and an officer needs back-up, code 217 or assault with murder attempt is the right code to use. The officer may simply say over the radio, “Code 217 at Madison Avenue. Requesting for 11-99!” This is a combination of police scanner panel codes and eleven codes, another set of emergency radio codes. A report on assault with intent to murder and request for back-up at a certain location is quickly done with a short one-line radio communication.
A 273D Police Report
Reports should be done in such a way that details are relayed accurately without divulging them to civilians who may be present in the operation or at the time of reporting. For instance, the family of a woman who is a victim of cruel wife-beating is around the police premise. If family members are not supposed to know how grave the incident is, officers may talk of the case in front of them without revealing any sensitive detail. This is possible by simply saying 273D (another common police scanner penal code) when referring to it.
Some Common 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 Eleven Codes
Police scanner eleven codes were primarily designed to address the needs of the California Highway Patrol. Traffic operatives and officers from this service felt the need to expedite radio communications. So they came up with these radio communication codes. The eleven codes were closely applied alongside the ten-codes to simplify radio conversations especially during emergencies. Here are some of their uses:
For Emergencies and Others on the Road
Police scanner eleven codes are mostly about highway and road emergency situations. They range from accidents, road crimes, car chases, traffic, transportation assistance, automobile repairs, parades, and escort or convoy protection. It would be difficult for operatives to drive while reporting road updates, especially when mounted on a motorcycle. This is where scanner radio communication codes come in handy.
For Short and Simple Reports
The nature of work the California Highway Patrol group (CHPG) has, keeps it out on the main roads and highways often. These are noisy places where short and simple radio communication codes are needed. Instead of saying, “There is a vehicle collision at the corner of interstate 24 and highway 7. We need an ambulance, quick! There may be casualties!” the operative can simply say, “11-79 at i-24 and highway 7. Possible 11-44.” With such short and simple police scanner eleven codes, the dispatcher gets the whole picture. Immediate and accurate help is then dispatched.
For Calming Down a Tense Situation
Police scanner eleven codes are also used to keep sensitive information from becoming public knowledge. For instance, a bomb is sniffed by a k-9 dog inside a public bus and there are passengers on board. A CHPG operative would know that, but not the passengers. To report the emergency update, the law enforcer would use radio communication codes. Even if the people hear the updates, they won’t panic.
For Protecting Classified Information
Radio communication codes are supposed to be exclusive to law enforcement operatives. But sometimes, the signals can be intercepted by lawless elements adept at electronic technology. When this happens, police scanner eleven codes are useful. They keep vital information confidential, though communicated in the hearing of unauthorized persons. Or, reporting of sensitive update details can be shifted to a landline transmission. This is done by simply saying, “11-58.” The receiver of the code will immediately understand that radio communication codes are being intercepted. Telephone communication will have to be resorted to.
For Quick Back-Up
A highway patrolling job can be quite hazardous. One can never know what danger may be waiting out there in the byways and highways. In case an immediate back-up support is needed, a mere “11-99” radio report is all that is needed. The station will immediately dispatch reinforcement to the location.
Some Common 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 assistance required!
Police Scanner Ten Codes
What are Police Scanner Ten Codes?
These codes are used to replace actual words or phrases used in radio communications. They are often used by police and fire departments. In most cases, they are used in ambulances during emergencies. Those involved in rescue operations during disasters also use them. Among popular police scanner ten codes is “10-4.” It means a radio message or signal is received loud and clear.
Why “Ten” Codes?
There are some dozens (not just ten) of police scanner ten codes generally in use today. They are all prefixed with the number ten. Hence, the term “ten” codes. “Ten” was chosen way back in 1937. It was the time when radio communication codes began to be used. This was to hasten police reporting through radio and remedy the problem of radio static. The first few seconds of transmission was blurred by static. Hence, to make sure messages were not affected by it, a preliminary code “10” was first sent immediately followed by the main code.
Some Common 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