Police code
A police code is a numerical brevity code for a crime, incident, or instructions for police officers.
Examples
Code | Description |
---|---|
2 | No Lights And Sirens |
3 | Lights And Sirens |
4 | Disregard |
121 | Priority on the air |
122 | Priority on silence |
123 | Sick or injured person |
124 | Operation completed |
125 | Operation continue |
126 | Intercept suspects |
127 | Proceed with caution |
128 | No siren, no flashing |
129 | Request back up |
130 | Emergency |
131 | Shooting |
132 | Armed robbery |
133 | Possibly dangerous person |
134 | Kidnapping |
135 | Escape |
136 | Hold of hostages |
137 | Riot |
138 | Bomb alert |
139 | Air disaster |
140 | Murder |
141 | Accident |
142 | Unlawful assembly |
143 | Hit and run |
144 | Impaired |
145 | Prisoner transport |
146 | Breaking and entering (vehicle or residence) |
147 | Suspect armed |
148 | Brawl/Family feuding |
149 | Ascertainment |
150 | Theft |
In California
The Hundred Code is a three digit police code system.[1] This code is usually pronounced digit-by-digit, using a radio alphabet for any letters, as 505 "five zero five" or 207A "two zero seven Alpha". The following codes are used in California. They are from the California Penal Code except where noted below.[2]
In the 1970s, the television show Adam-12 was considered so authentic in its portrayal of Los Angeles PD officers and their procedures that excerpts from the shows were used as police training films around the country. This led to widespread use of California Penal Codes as radio codes.
Code | Description |
---|---|
187 | Murder |
207 | Kidnapping |
207A | Kidnapping attempt |
211 | Robbery |
211A | Robbery alarm |
211S | Robbery alarm, silent |
212 | Illegal use of drugs |
213 | Use of illegal explosives |
214 | Kidnapping and murder |
215 | Carjacking |
216 | Child Abuse |
217 | Assault with intent to murder |
218 | Sexual activity with a minor |
219 | Cutting or Stabbing |
240 | Assault |
241 | Impaling |
242 | Battery |
243 | Battery with dangerous weapons |
244 | Murder with Illegal weapons |
245 | Assault with a deadly weapon |
246 | Shooting at inhabited dwelling |
261 | Rape |
261A | Attempted rape |
273A | Child neglect |
273D | Domestic violence – Felony |
288 | Lewd conduct |
311 | Child pornography |
314 | Indecent exposure |
374B | Illegal dumping |
390 | Drunk |
390D | Drunk, unconscious |
415 | Disturbance |
417 | Person with a gun |
417K | Person with a knife |
417B | Person with bomb |
419 | Dead human body |
428 | Child molest |
444 | Officer-involved shooting |
459 | Burglary |
459A | Burglar alarm |
459S | Burglar alarm, silent |
470 | Forgery |
480 | Hit and run – Felony (great bodily injury or death) |
481 | Hit and run – Misdemeanor |
484 | Theft (definition) |
486 | Major Theft (value < 10,000) |
487 | Grand theft (value > $950, or certain livestock) |
488 | Petty theft (value < $950) |
501 | Drunk driving – felony (great bodily injury or death) |
502 | Drunk driving |
503 | Auto theft |
504 | Tampering with a vehicle |
505A | Reckless driving |
507 | Public nuisance |
510 | Speeding or racing vehicles |
586 | Illegal parking |
594 | Malicious mischief |
604 | Throwing object |
647 | Lewd conduct (various subsections) |
653M | Threatening phone calls |
"500" codes are only radio codes that substitute for other code sections. For example, a "503" is not Penal Code section 503 (embezzlement). All of the "500" codes, generally, involve vehicles and are thus grouped together (except 594, which is an actual Penal Code section). Additionally, "390" and variants are also radio codes only (CPC 647(f) is the legally enforced section "public intoxication").
In California, some radio codes in the 400–599 range that refer to vehicle violations are left over from the California Vehicle Code (CVC) which was revised in 1971. Some agencies, such as the California Highway Patrol (CHP) use the current vehicle code numbers while municipal and county police agencies, especially the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) still use the 500 series.
Old | New | Description |
---|---|---|
480 | 20001 | Felony Hit and Run |
481 | 20002 | Misdemeanor Hit and Run |
501 | 23151 | Felony Drunk Driving |
502 | 23152 | Misdemeanor Drunk Driving[3] |
503 | 10851 | Stolen Vehicle (also a penal code section, 487A) |
504 | 10854 | Tampering with a Motor Vehicle |
505 | 23103 | Reckless Driving |
510 | 23109 | Speed Contest / Racing |
586 | 22500 | Illegal Parking |
References and notes
- "Police Codes Explained".
- Dansker, Zack. "Police Radio Codes". stanford.edu. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- A drunk driver is often referred to as a "deuce". This comes from the "2" at the end of the original code, "502", which subsequent codes have retained.
External links
- "Police Scanner Codes Site". PoliceCodes.org.
- "Radio and Identification codes". Mendosa.com.