You’ve probably heard them used on TV shows and Movies (e.g. “That’s a big 10-4, Bandit.” Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)), and if you’re in law enforcement, you probably use them every day. Ten Codes (10-Codes), Eleven Codes (11-Codes), Emergency Response Codes, Vehicle Codes and Penal Codes are just a few of the different types of radio short codes used by police, fire, and other emergency services.
One of the things I’ve learned when doing a little research on this topic is that the codes, mostly 10 and 11 codes, are not standard across all departments. It’s up to each department to setup the codes they want to use and what those codes mean. Most departments seem to stick to a similar code set, but there are definitely some slight modifications made to fit the departments needs.
Below you will find some basic 10-Codes, 11-Codes, and some Emergency Response Codes. Just remember, in your area, they could be a little different… But hopefully this will give you a decent understanding and a base to work off of.
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