Do You Know Your Radio Codes?
Ever wanted to know what it meant when someone said 10-4 on their two-way radio? 10-radio codes, or 10 signals, are used to represent common phrases. The codes were developed in 1937 and first used by the U.S. Navy. They were later expanded in 1974 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). They are especially popular among law enforcement officials including municipal and provincial police, as well as the RCMP. Below you will find a list of common 10-radio codes so you too, can talk like an expert.
10-Radio Codes
- 10-1 Receiving Poorly
- 10-2 Receiving Well
- 10-3 Stop Transmitting
- 10-4 Acknowledgement
- 10-5 Relay
- 10-6 Busy
- 10-7 Out of Service
- 10-8 In Service
- 10-9 Repeat
- 10-10 Out of Service / Subject to call
- 10-11 Transmitting to rapidly
- 10-12 Visitors Present
- 10-13 Road / Weather conduction
- 10-14 Escort
- 10-15 En Route with Prisoner
- 10-17 Pick up Papers
- 10-18 Complete Assignment ASAP
- 10-19 Return to Station
- 10-20 What’s Your Location
- 10-21 Call Your Station by Telephone
- 10-21B Call Your home
- 10-22 Cancel Last Message
- 10-23 Standby
- 10-25 Do you have contact with _____?
- 10-28 Registration Request
- 10-29 Check for Stolen
- 10-30 Subject is Not Wanted
- 10-31 Subject has a record
- 10-32 Subject is Wanted
- 10-32F Subject wanted – Felony
- 10-33 Standby, Emergency Traffic Only
- 10-34 Resume Normal Radio Traffic
- 10-35 Confidential Information
- 10-36 Correct Time
- 10-39 Message Delivered
- 10-42 Pick Up Officer
- 10-45 Service Your Equipment
- 10-49 Proceed to ___________
- 10-86 Traffic Check
- 10-87 Meet ______ At _______
- 10-97 Arrived on Scene
- 10-98 Finished Last Assignment
- 10-100 Restroom Break
Officer Status Codes
- CODE 1 – Routine Follow Officer
- CODE 2 – Expedite Follow Officer
- CODE 3 – Emergency Follow Officer
- CODE 4 – No Further Assistance Needed
- CODE 5 – Stakeout (Observation)
- CODE 6 – Out for Investigation
- CODE 7 – Out of Service / Lunch Break
- CODE 8 – Fire Alarm
- CODE 12 – Report Disaster Damage
- CODE 13 – Emergency Procedures
Phonetic Alphabet
- A – Alpha
- B – Bravo
- C – Charlie
- D – Delta
- E – Echo
- F – Foxtrot
- G – Golf
- H – Hotel
- I – India
- J – Juliet
- K – Kilo
- L – Lima
- M – Mike
- N – November
- O – Oscar
- P – Papa
- Q – Quebec
- R – Romeo
- S – Sierra
- T – Tango
- U – Uniform
- V – Victor
- W – Whiskey
- X – X-ray
- Y – Yankee
- Z – Zulu
If you liked this article, download our 10-codes one-page PDF document.
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