No more 10 codes on police radio

[ne3r]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/18/cop.codes.ap/index.html
I used to listen to the scanner a lot -- it was a little confusing, it seems like each department had their own variations of 10 codes, some of them were the same, like 10-4 and 10-20.

I know we avoid using Q signals and use plain language instead during ARES/RACES activity. There isn't much point in using Q signals on phone anyway, although I must say, I've been known for the occatioanl QSL http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif and I use 73 a lot.

73
Joe
N3PAQ

[KD6NIG]

Most of the departments around here use "900" codes.

So "10-4" becomes "904".

"906" is "Are you ok (are you code 4)" The proper response is "907" (I am ok). So they don't transcend across the board like 10 codes do.

A good portion of them use those, and the penal code section for other stuff, or they have specific codes. #Like a disturbance being a 415, a 415F is family, 415J involves juveniles, etc.

I can say though that except for Tracy PD using "10-4" to acknowledge stuff and some other 10 codes on occasion....everyone else is 900 codes or something like that.

But most of the time I hear "copy" or "understood" more than ten codes nowadays. #Plain language isn't as confusing http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

When someone says "have the units step it up" its pretty clear in the language that they mean get me some assistance here, and fast!

[N4AUD]

All the officers told me about this elimination of 10-codes. There are a couple of codes that I think they'll keep, but the are dumping the rest because different departments use different codes, though all in this area use the same ones the state police use. I imagine they'll have a hard time getting rid of 10-4, which is pretty much universal anyway. If an officer doesn't know what "10-4" means...
But the 10 codes are history.

[WA2ZDY]

Ever seen the list of 800 codes? It's hysterical, unfit for publication on qrz.com and I lost mine and wish I had another!

[KC9ECI]

Old news. We were informed here quite some time ago that 10 codes would no longer be used. It's part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Long story short, any department that wants access to any kind of Federal grant money, will be NIMS compliant. That said, they're still using the 10 codes here. I don't, but most still do.

[KC5SAS]

Locals can still use 10 codes in daily operations but, according to NIMS, during a emergency in which an Incident Command has been established they are to use Plain Speech. It's up to each organizationto determine if they will use plain speech all the time or just during disasters. For instance, here the Parish Fire Departments no longer use 10 codes. They switched to plain speech back on January 1 of this year. Meanwhile, the Parish Sheriff's Department still uses 10 codes daily for routine business.

[W6GQ]

10-4, I heard that I did http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[ab8ro]

I was thinking about this the other day.














































just kidding, I could care less about 10 codes.

[W5HTW]

Quote[/b] (KC5SAS @ Nov. 18 2006,13:04)]Locals can still use 10 codes in daily operations but, according to NIMS, during a emergency in which an Incident Command has been established they are to use Plain Speech. It's up to each organizationto determine if they will use plain speech all the time or just during disasters. For instance, here the Parish Fire Departments no longer use 10 codes. They switched to plain speech back on January 1 of this year. Meanwhile, the Parish Sheriff's Department still uses 10 codes daily for routine business.
That pretty much says it. Within a specific department, 10-codes are still in use. When interfacing with another department, even without an emergency being declared, 10-codes all but disappear, with the exception of 10-4, and 10-20, and one or two others.

Our local sheriff's department uses them, but since the dispatch system here is known as Central Dispatch, and handles several agencies, they tend to use 10-codes only with the county sheriff. When on EMS channels they may use 10-4 but that's about it. When communicating with state police, they lean more toward plain language, not even using 10-20.

They still use the old Signal codes, but only within the department. Occasionally one will slip and say to a state police officer, "It's Signal 17" and the SP comes back with "What's a Signal 17?" The dispatcher says "Domestic Violence."

It is abundantly clear that plain English is becoming, and has to become, the standard. My son was a cop in Florida, and, for example, 10-45 was suspicion vehicle. Here is is accident with injuries. When I was with the SP, a 10-12 was a homicide. Here is it "Someone present in vehicle." The confusion over ten codes is massive, and 9-11 brought that to attention as volunteers from agencies around the nation flocked to help, and they couldn't speak the same language.

Albuquerque PD uses 10-codes within the department, but to keep thei federal grants, they have to switch to plain English in any interdepartmental communication, whether it's police, fire or EMS.

We have learned. Soon only CBers and Hams will use ten codes. Broderick Crawford is gone.

Ed

[KC0NBW]

Quote[/b] (W5HTW @ Nov. 18 2006,19:08)]We have learned. #Soon only CBers and Hams will use ten codes. Broderick Crawford is gone.

Ed
the only time i have heard any 10 codes on ham radio has either been bootleggers or newcomers that don't know any better !

[KM5FL]

Quote[/b] (ab8ro @ Nov. 18 2006,20:32)]I was thinking about this the other day.














































just kidding, I could care less about 10 codes.
Well, you can if you want. But personally, I care sooo less about 'em that I COULDN'T care less http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Also, just kidding.....

KM5FL

[ab8ro]

Quote[/b] (KM5FL @ Nov. 18 2006,23:12)]Quote[/b] (ab8ro @ Nov. 18 2006,20:32)]I was thinking about this the other day.














































just kidding, I could care less about 10 codes.
Well, you can if you want. But personally, I care sooo less about 'em that I COULDN'T care less #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Also, just kidding.....
Oops, you caught the braino, like a typo, only more insidious. Of course I meant I couldn't care less because if I could care less, well, then I'm already caring too much.

[KG4ROL]

Down here in and around Orlando, Fl. they pretty much dumped they codes. One reason is that everybody is figuring them out. Here in the last few months I heard some departments using them. But, now some the departments are going to the 800's and encypting the calls. As well, going digital for the calls. Or should I say the radios are being upgraded to these new features.

Chris,
KG4ROL
Oviedo, Fl.

[KC9ECI]

I was watching an episode of Dexter the other day. The basis of the show is that Dexter is a serail killer that works for the Miami PD. I know that there have been threads here before saying that the FL law enforcement uses Q signals. Right after they took a bad guy into custody on the show, they radioed 'QSL' to confim that they had him in custody.

[KB3LIX]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Nov. 18 2006,13:41)]Ever seen the list of 800 codes? #It's hysterical, unfit for publication on qrz.com and I lost mine and wish I had another!
Chris,

Years ago, my mother-in-law and I used to exchange
"836" at the end of each conversation on 11 meters.
She was a HOWL, may she R.I.P.

For those of you that have never heard of the 800 codes,

TOUGH !!!

Don't remember many of them, but "836" will live forever.

[WA2ZDY]

Whew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who remembers them. Yep, they were good.

10-4 good buddy?