Wouldn't it be easier to just say auto accident, shots fired, traffic stop, etc instead of using numbers?
2007-01-26 12:13:43 · 13 answers · asked by AL IS ON VACATION AND HAS NO PIC 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Many police departments are actually shifting away from the old ten code radio communications and using brief concise words like in your own examples.
2007-01-26 12:29:42 · answer #1 · answered by Mon-chu' 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As cg23 mentioned, we are going to phase out 10 codes eventually. They are established for brevity and, theoretically, to confuse the listeners in "scanner land". Now that technology is catching up, agencies are investing in better radio systems that are almost extremely difficult to detect with scanners. Some are on digital "frequencies", others are trunked on the 800 or 900 Mhz systems. Scanning equipment for these radios would run into the thousands for some models. I believe it has already been mandated in the state of Texas that in the next several years the radios working in the 150 Mhz range will have to be replaced with at least 800 Mhz systems. During that time 10 codes will be phased out, as well. With the trunked 800 Mhz system, an officer in, say Brownsville, TX, could talk on the radio with an officer in, say Amarillo, TX. Also if the base system fails, the mobile radios can still be operated from the next closest tower and the mobile range is much, much farther.
2007-01-27 02:18:40 · answer #2 · answered by John 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Police use codes intentionally to confuse you.
and for accuracy in their reports
Many people have scanners and many of them are people who the Cops (and you as well if you are smart) do NOT want knowing what is going on. Criminals listen to scanners to find out if the cops have been tipped of to them. And people with an overidding sense of curiosity who just get in the way and love to show up to watch other peoples misfortune.
As someone else mentioned though. Police agencies around the US are now moving away from 10 codes for several reasons. 10 codes are NOT standardized. a few (like 10-4 and 10-20, Yes, and Location respectively) are but most vary from place to place. a 10-51 may be one thing to one police department but something else entirely to another. During major disasters (like Katrina) when multiple agencies are responding to the same situation there is a lot of confusion even for the police.
A second reson for no more codes is that they are not secret so those idiots that cops dont want knowing what they ar4e saying has a copy of what the codes are anyway. At most all they confuse is the casual listener (and you apparently).
Police will still use certain codes (not the 10 codes) like the offense codes for crimes like murder, rape, etc.. Mostly to protect the privacy and Identity of the victims or their families.
But the general codespeak of 10 codes is going away to improve interagency communications
2007-01-26 13:16:39 · answer #3 · answered by CG-23 Sailor 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They use codes because so many people have police scanners. If they said they were enroute to a crime robbery, shots fired, etc... people that should not be there would show up and cause more problems!!!!! When they have some one stopped on a traffic stop if they just said he is know for carring guns & drugs the person could hear and cause problems using the code the person does not know what they are talking about. They are for everyone's safety!!!!
2007-01-26 12:53:24 · answer #4 · answered by d3midway semi-retired 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It isn't secret. The 10 codes can be found on the Internet. The codes are used for brevity and save air time. They aren't required to be used. I don't think anyone is going to get in trouble for saying "copy" instead of 10-4.
2007-01-26 12:28:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, it's to cut down on radio airtime. saying "10-8" is faster than saying "I'm reporting for duty now" or "10-27" for "I need a vehicle registration checked" etc. etc. etc. 10-24??
2007-01-26 13:20:08 · answer #6 · answered by SGT. D 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
THEY FLIRTING! existence guards are frequently jocks. or perhaps after highschool jocks do no longer enhance up. some by no skill do. the different day I observed a guy throw a ball at a female and he or she only laughed. the next day I observed a guy pull yet another women hair.
2016-09-28 01:03:17 · answer #7 · answered by heusel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, they are supposed to be getting rid of those, nation wide, soon because they mean different things in different areas. They will be using normal words and situations so that people understand and can respond more efficiently.
2007-01-26 14:14:18 · answer #8 · answered by dgclip1981 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe it's because they don't want non-cops randomly showing up to a scene. People might be able to intercept the info and show up somewhere where they don't belong. The cops need a secret language.
2007-01-26 12:23:12 · answer #9 · answered by I am a Muppet 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is for them to differentiate between the types of accidents, etc. Every industry has it's unique "lingo". It is not meant for the "outsider" to understand. So I guess you really don't need to worry about it - just so long as the officers know what they are talking about, what does it matter to the rest of us???
2007-01-26 13:05:07 · answer #10 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋