Police Scanner Codes

Scanners and Police Scanner Codes

A police scanner is very much like any other radio receiver. It can monitor mobile and handheld radio systems that use VHF and UHF frequencies. It can scan and tune into various frequencies that are used by police officers. Since radio static is quite common with these radio frequencies, police scanner codes are used. They are utilized to make communication more efficient by trimming down sentences into two-word codes and signals.

Different Codes in Use

Do take note that there are different police scanner codes in use today. They sometimes differ by territory, country, and state. Some states use different codes other than the most common ones that many people have become familiar with. There are different codes for fire and medical status. There are also color codes used by the police. Some agencies even use their own internal codes.

Some organizations utilize abbreviated codes though it is quite common even among various countries to utilize numeric scanner codes. Among the numeric codes people might have heard of 11 codes, 1-37 codes, and 10 codes. Numeric codes are more audible and are a lot easier to discern even when there is static. The only hitch is that you need to become familiar with these codes in order to understand what they mean. You can use a chart or commit a lot of them to memory as you become more familiar with such codes.

Common Numeric Scanner Codes

Civilians may have heard these codes blurted out as they watch a movie where such scanners are put to use by the characters in the show. The most common numeric scanner codes people may have heard include Code 2 (use no light/siren), Code 3 (use both light and siren), Code 4 (further assistance no longer needed), Code 5 (means conducting a stakeout), Code 6 (signals others to stay out of a specified area), Code 7 and Code 8 (signifying a meal break and restroom break respectively), Code 9 (agents to put on summer uniform), Code 10 (summon SWAT), Code 37 (property or subject wanted).

Color Codes

The color codes are police scanner codes that mostly put to use during a police emergency. The use of these codes has been known to help save lives. They are used not only by law enforcers but by rescue and relief operators as well. These color codes are Code Blue (taxi/bus in trouble), Code Red (VARDA), and Code Purple (signal for gang activity).

10-11 Codes

These are the numeric police scanner codes that are utilized by law enforcement officers and the fire department. The police scanner 11-Codes were initially used for the benefit of the California Highway Patrol. The 11-Codes are now in use along with the 10-Codes to make radio communications simpler and protecting classified information.

Scanner Radio