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{{Redirect|10-1|the FIFA World Cup match|Hungary v El Salvador (1982 FIFA World Cup)}}
{{Redirect|10-20|the EEG electrode placement system|10–20 system (EEG)}}
{{Duplicated citations|reason=[[User:Polygnotus/DuplicateReferences|DuplicateReferences]] detected:<br>
* http://28011b0082f55a9e1ec0-aecfa82ae628504f4b1d229bd9030ae1.r13.cf1.rackcdn.com/1940-01-p008-200.pdf (refs: 7, 19)
* https://blowonthepie.co.nz/emergency-codes/national-radio-codes-police/ (refs: 14, 27)
|date=July 2025}}
 
'''Ten-codes''', officially known as '''ten signals''', are [[brevity code]]s used to represent common phrases in voice communication, particularly by US public safety officials and in [[Citizens band radio|citizens band]] (CB) radio transmissions. The police version of ten-codes is officially known as the '''APCO Project 14 Aural Brevity Code.'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://28011b0082f55a9e1ec0-aecfa82ae628504f4b1d229bd9030ae1.r13.cf1.rackcdn.com/1975-10-017.200.pdf|title=APCO Brevity Code to be "Voluntary Standard" In Florida Communications Plan|date=October 1975|website=rackcdn.com|access-date=July 1, 2019}}</ref>
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===In popular culture===
Ten-codes, especially "10-4" (meaning "understood") first reached public recognition in the mid- to late-1950s through the popular television series ''[[Highway Patrol (U.S. TV series)|Highway Patrol]]'', with [[Broderick Crawford]].{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
 
Ten-codes were adapted for use by [[Citizens band radio|CB radio]] enthusiasts. [[C. W. McCall]]'s hit song "[[Convoy (song)|Convoy]]" (1975), depicting conversation among CB-communicating [[trucker]]s, put phrases like "10-4" and "what's your twenty?" (10-20 for "where are you?") into common use in American English.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
Line 29 ⟶ 33:
The movie ''[[Convoy (1978 film)|Convoy]]'' (1978), loosely based on McCall's song, further entrenched ten-codes in casual conversation, as did the movie ''[[Smokey and the Bandit]].
 
The New Zealand [[reality television]] show ''[[Ten 7 Aotearoa]]'' (formerly ''Police Ten 7'') takes its name from the New Zealand Police ten-code 10-7, which means "Unit has arrived at job".<ref name="Admin">{{citationCite web needed|last=Admin |first=Blow on the Pie |title=NATIONAL RADIO CODES / POLICE {{!}} BlowonthePie - For New Zealand Scanner Codes and more |url=https://blowonthepie.co.nz/emergency-codes/national-radio-codes-police/ |access-date=February2025-03-02 2023|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Screen |first=NZ On |title=Police Ten 7 {{!}} Series {{!}} Television {{!}} NZ On Screen |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/police-ten-7-2002/series#:~:text=Taking%20its%20name%20from%20police,began%20presenting%20in%20September%202015. |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=www.nzonscreen.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Police officer retirement (North America)==
Often when an officer retires, a call to dispatch is made. The officer gives a 10-7 code (Out of service) and then a 10-42 code (ending tour of duty).<ref name="FOX">{{cite news |last1=Suarez Sang |first1=Lucia I. |title=Cop son gives father -- a fellow officer -- a heartfelt sendoff on last radio call before retirement |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/cop-son-gives-fellow-officer-father-heartfelt-sendoff-on-last-radio-call-before-retirement |access-date=21 December 2019 |publisher=Fox News |date=8 February 2019}}</ref><ref name="Trib">{{cite news |title=Son surprises father by acknowledging his last radio call before retiring from Arkansas Highway Police |url=https://fox13now.com/2019/02/07/son-surprises-father-by-acknowledging-his-last-radio-call-before-retiring-from-arkansas-highway-police/ |access-date=21 December 2019 |agency=Fox 13 Now |publisher=Tribune Media Wire |date=7 February 2019}}</ref>
 
==Signals by era (North America)==
{| class="wikitable"
!Signal
Line 1,239 ⟶ 1,243:
|}
 
== ReplacementUsage withby plain languageAreas ==
While ten-codes were intended to be a terse, concise, and standardized system, the proliferation of different meanings can render them useless in situations when officers from different agencies and jurisdictions need to communicate.
 
=== New Zealand ===
In the fall of 2005, responding to inter-organizational communication problems during the rescue operations after [[Hurricane Katrina]], the United States [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) discouraged the use of ten-codes and other codes due to their wide variation in meaning.<ref>[http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605 The End of the Ten-Code?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722201256/http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605|date=2009-07-22}}. Tim Dees, Officer.com, 9 November 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_5e02f577-c15d-5848-89b8-3f03ea7da3b5.html?mode=print 10-4 no more?]. Megan Scott, asap (AP), 23 November 2005</ref> The [[Department of Homeland Security]]'s SAFECOM program, established in response to communication problems experienced during the [[September 11 attacks]] also advises local agencies on how and why to transition to plain language,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|title=Plain Language Guide|work=SAFECOM program|publisher=Department of Homeland Security|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527234725/http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-27|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> and their use is expressly forbidden in the nationally standardized [[Incident Command System]], as is the use of other codes.<ref name="nimsfaq">Federal Emergency Management Agency. ''NIMS Frequently Asked Questions''. Retrieved on 2014-12-01 from {{cite web|url=https://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|title=NIMS Frequently Asked Questions &#124; FEMA.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223190939/http://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|archive-date=2014-12-23|url-status=live|access-date=2014-12-02}}.</ref>
The [[New Zealand Police]] use a variety of radio communication codes including its own version of 10-codes seen below.<ref name="Admin"/>
 
APCO International stated in 2012 that plain speech communications over public safety radio systems is preferred over the traditional 10-Codes and dispatch signals.<ref>[http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html#plainspeech APCO position statement on Plain Speech in Public Safety Communications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509005027/http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html|date=2012-05-09}}</ref> Nineteen states had changed to plain English by the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language/|title=Maine police dropping 10-code, switching to plain language|last=Mack|first=Sharon Kiley|date=January 1, 2010|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|access-date=October 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118082538/http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2011}}, ten-codes remained in common use in many areas, but were increasingly being phased out in favor of plain language.<ref name="plain" />
 
=== Clear Speech Procedure ===
In 1971, the Public Safety Department of [[Lakewood, Colorado]], published a study comparing the APCO Ten-code with the proposed Clear Speech procedure. The study used standards for judgment of both communications procedures based on ''The Public Safety Communications Standard Operating Procedure Manual'', 1970 edition, published by APCO. According to the report, the Clear Speech Procedure was to replace ten-codes in all Public Safety Department radio communication since January 28, 1972.<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+Replacement of ten-codes with the Clear Speech Procedure (Public Safety Department, Lakewood, Colorado, 1972)<ref name=":0" />
!Code
|-
!Meaning
!Was
!Activity
(Ten-Code)
!Now
(Procedure Word)
|-
|10-0
|Off duty
|Use Caution
|In use
|-
|10-1
|Broadcast to all units
|Unable to copy – change ___location
|In use
|-
|10-2
|Enroute to job/event
|In use
|-
|10-3
|Available
|Stop transmitting
|In use
|-
|10-4
|Repeat your last message
|Roger
|In use
|-
|10-5
|Out of service for a short time
|Relay
|Not in use
|-
|10-6
|Change radio channel
|Busy
|In use
|-
|10-7
|Out at...
|-
|10-8
|Arrived at job/event
|Clear
|In use
|-
|10-9
|Busy but Available
|Say again
|In use
|-
|10-1210
|Officer requires immediate assistance (call for help)
|Stand by
|In use
|-
|10-13
|Weather report/road report
|-
|10-15
|Disturbance
|-
|10-17A
|Theft
|-
|10-17B
|Vandalism
|-
|10-17C
|Shoplifting
|-
|10-18
|Urgent
|-
|10-19
|Return to...
|-
|10-20
|Location
|-
|10-21
|Call...
|-
|10-22
|Disregard
|-
|10-23
|On scene
|-
|10-25
|Meet...or contact...
|-
|10-26
|Detaining subject, expedite
|-
|10-27
|Drivers License information on...
|-
|10-28
|Registration information on...
|-
|10-29
|Check for wanted on...
|-
|10-31A
|Burglary
|-
|10-31B
|Robbery
|-
|10-31C
|Homicide
|-
|10-31D
|Kidnapping
|-
|10-31E
|Shooting
|-
|10-38
|Traffic stop on...
|-
|10-42
|Off duty
|-
|10-44
|Request for...
|-
|10-46
|Assist motorist
|-
|10-49
|East bound green light out (etc.)
|-
|10-50
|Traffic
* K=Fatal
* PD=Property Damage
* Hit and run
* Injury
* No injury reported
* Unknown
* Private property, ___location
|-
|10-56
|Drunk pedestrian
|-
|10-63
|Prepare to copy
|-
|10-70
|Fire
|-
|10-74
|Negative
|-
|10-76
|En route...
|-
|10-77
|ETA (Estimated time of arrival)
|-
|10-78
|Request assistance
|-
|10-79
|Notify coroner (to be done by phone whenever possible)
|-
|10-80
|Chase
|-
|10-89
|Bomb threat
|-
|10-90
|Alarm (type of alarm)
|-
|10-91
|Pick up prisoner
|-
|10-92
|Parking complaint
|-
|10-95
|Prisoner in custody
|-
|10-97
|Check traffic signal
|-
|10-98
|Prison/jail break
|-
|10-99
|Wanted/stolen
|-
|&nbsp;
|
* ROGER{{snd}}To be used as acknowledgement.
* AFFIRMATIVE{{snd}}To be used when "yes" is needed
* HELP{{snd}}To be used when in danger and urgent assistance is needed.
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
=== Philippines ===
|+Clear Speech status codes (Public Safety Department, Lakewood, Colorado, 1972)<ref name=":0" />
 
== TxtFire Philippines Fire-Specific 10-Codes ==
 
'''TxtFire Philippines''' employs a subset of its standard 10-codes exclusively for fire-response operations. These fire-specific signals are used to dispatch and coordinate firefighting resources on VHF/UHF radio.
 
== Fire-specific code list ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Code !! Meaning
|-
| 10-23 || Arrived at scene
!Code
!Meaning
|-
| 10-45 || Fire-service vehicle
|CODE ZERO
|Echo response
|-
| 10-70 || For Verification, Fire alarm (structure)
|CODE ONE
|Informs all units to STANDBY – STOP TRANSMITTING. Do not transmit, except for emergency messages, while Code 1 is in effect. Dispatch shall announce, "Clear Code 1," when the condition is secured.
|-
| 10-71 || Advise nature of fire
|CODE TWO
|Indicates an "urgent" call short of an "emergency" situation. A Code 2 call has priority over all other police activities except "emergencies".
Proceed directly to Code 2 calls as quickly as is consistent with safety. Agents may, in exceptional cases, use their emergency equipment (both visual and audible to comply with state law) to traverse an otherwise clear intersection against a red traffic control device. Once clear of the intersection – turn off the emergency equipment.
|-
| 10-73 || Request additional fire truck
|CODE THREE
|Indicates an EMERGENCY call. Red lights and siren are authorized. Proceed as quickly as possible with due regard for safety, and in compliance with the laws governing emergency vehicles.
|-
| 10-74 || Negative Fire
|CODE FOUR
|Used to indicate that sufficient units have responded to a ___location, or that assistance is not needed, or is no longer needed.
|-
|CODE FIVE
|Used when Wanted/Records checks are requested by an agent to alert the agent of a wanted felon, a person known to be dangerous or a person known to be mentally unstable.
A backup unit shall be dispatched Code 2 on all Code 5's.
 
Personnel will NOT proceed with Code 5 details until the receiving unit requests some. The unit receiving a Code 5 will request the details when he is in a safe position to do so, which might not be until his backup arrives.
|-
|CODE SIX
|When an agent is dispatched to a traffic accident, and the dispatcher states, "Code 6," the agent will advise the drivers involved to proceed to the station to file their reports. This will only be done if there are no injuries, no unusual circumstance and the vehicles are safely operable. Driver Exchange Forms will be completed at the scene to include the C. R. number.
|-
|CODE SEVEN
|Indicates "out of service – personal."
|-
|CODE EIGHT
|Assist a fire department.
|}
 
== Fire response protocols ==
* Codes 10-70 through 10-73 automatically trigger dispatch of firefighting units and apparatus.
* Code 10-45 is used to identify any fire-service vehicle (engine, ladder, tanker, etc.) on the air.
* All fire-specific traffic takes priority over routine and non-fire messages on the main frequency.
 
== Operational procedures ==
 
=== Emergency protocols ===
 
Codes 10-70 through 10-73 are designated as fire-specific codes that trigger automatic dispatch protocols within the TxtFire network.
 
Code 10-33 is reserved exclusively for life-threatening emergencies, requiring all non-essential radio traffic to cease immediately.
 
=== Communication guidelines ===
 
Before initiating non-emergency communication with another station, operators must first request permission using code "10-75" from base control and complete the communication within three minutes, or transfer to a secondary channel.
 
During curfew hours (22:00–06:00), only emergency traffic is permitted on the main frequency; routine communications are prohibited.
 
Base control strictly prohibits vulgar language and commercial or personal advertisements on all frequencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/85146964/10Codes-and-Rules |title=10Codes and Rules |website=Scribd |access-date=2025-07-26}}</ref>
 
== Replacement with plain language ==
While ten-codes were intended to be a terse, concise, and standardized system, the proliferation of different meanings can render them useless in situations when officers from different agencies and jurisdictions need to communicate.
 
In the fall of 2005, responding to inter-organizational communication problems during the rescue operations after [[Hurricane Katrina]], the United States [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) discouraged the use of ten-codes and other codes due to their wide variation in meaning.<ref>[http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605 The End of the Ten-Code?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722201256/http://www.officer.com/article/article.jsp?siteSection=19&id=26605|date=2009-07-22}}. Tim Dees, Officer.com, 9 November 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_5e02f577-c15d-5848-89b8-3f03ea7da3b5.html?mode=print 10-4 no more?]. Megan Scott, asap (AP), 23 November 2005</ref> The [[Department of Homeland Security]]'s SAFECOM program, established in response to communication problems experienced during the [[September 11 attacks]] also advises local agencies on how and why to transition to plain language,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|title=Plain Language Guide|work=SAFECOM program|publisher=Department of Homeland Security|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527234725/http://www.safecomprogram.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5945AFE3-ADA9-4189-83B0-4D8218D0CA2F/0/PlainLanguageGuide.pdf|archive-date=2010-05-27|url-status=dead|access-date=2010-01-23}}</ref> and their use is expressly forbidden in the nationally standardized [[Incident Command System]], as is the use of other codes.<ref name="nimsfaq">Federal Emergency Management Agency. ''NIMS Frequently Asked Questions''. Retrieved on 2014-12-01 from {{cite web|url=https://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|title=NIMS Frequently Asked Questions &#124; FEMA.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223190939/http://www.fema.gov/nims-frequently-asked-questions|archive-date=2014-12-23|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-12-02}}.</ref>
 
APCO International stated in 2012 that plain speech communications over public safety radio systems is preferred over the traditional 10-Codes and dispatch signals.<ref>[http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html#plainspeech APCO position statement on Plain Speech in Public Safety Communications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509005027/http://www.apcointl.org/advocacy/position-statements.html|date=2012-05-09}}</ref> Nineteen states had changed to plain English by the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language/|title=Maine police dropping 10-code, switching to plain language|last=Mack|first=Sharon Kiley|date=January 1, 2010|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|access-date=October 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118082538/http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1984858-Maine-police-dropping-10-code-switching-to-plain-language|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2011}}, ten-codes remained in common use in many areas, but were increasingly being phased out in favor of plain language.<ref name="plain" />
 
=== Phrase Word Brevity Code ===
Line 1,473 ⟶ 1,349:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Phrase Word Brevity Code
!Phrase Wordword
!English Meaningmeaning
!APCO TEN CODETen-code
|-
|Use Caution
Line 1,571 ⟶ 1,447:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ICS Clear Text Guide<ref name=":2" />
!Procedure Wordword
!Meaning
|-
Line 1,663 ⟶ 1,539:
*[[California Penal Code]] sections were in use by the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] as early as the 1940s, and these [[Police code#The Hundred Code|Hundred Code]] numbers are still used today instead of the corresponding ten-code. Generally these are given as two sets of numbers{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
*The New York Fire Department uses its own ten-code system.<ref>[http://www.nyfd.com/radio.html F.D.N.Y. Radio Codes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100915175458/http://www.nyfd.com/radio.html |date=2010-09-15 }} The Unofficial Home Page of FDNY.</ref>
*The [[NewFire Zealandand FireEmergency ServiceNew Zealand]] uses a system of "K-codes" to pass [[fire appliance]] availability statuses as well as operational messages. For example, "K1" means "proceeding to incident", "K99" means "Structure fire, well involved", and "K41" means "fatality" (a reference to the [[Ballantynes fire|Ballantyne's fire]], New Zealand's deadliest, which killed 41 people).<ref>[http://neighbourhood.org.nz/fire_codes.html "K-Codes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510045941/http://neighbourhood.org.nz/fire_codes.html |date=2016-05-10 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.radiowiki.org.nz/index.php/Fire_Radio_Codes "Fire radio codes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419072833/http://www.radiowiki.org.nz/index.php/Fire_Radio_Codes |date=2016-04-19 }}</ref><ref name="Christchurch_library_article">{{cite web |title=Ballantynes' fire – 18 November 1947 |url=https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/ballantynes-fire/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914223140/http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/ballantynes-fire/ |archivedate=14 September 2016 |accessdate=31 December 2019 |publisher=[[Christchurch City Libraries]]}}</ref> The [[New Zealand Police]] also use some K-codes,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radiowiki.org.nz/index.php?title=Police_K_codes |title=Police K code |publisher=Radio Wiki |date=2012-06-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207045316/http://radiowiki.org.nz/index.php?title=Police_K_codes |archive-date=2013-02-07 }}</ref> with completely unrelated meanings to those used by NZFSFENZ; Police code "K1" means "no further police action required".
*Telegraph and teletype procedures
**[[Q code]] and [[prosigns for Morse code]] are used in [[amateur radio]], aviation, and [[marine radio]]. They provide specific abbreviations for concepts related to aviation, shipping, RTTY, radiotelegraph, and amateur radio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cbradiosource.com/archives/q_codes.pdf |title=Q Codes |publisher=CB Radio Source |access-date=2010-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814025822/http://cbradiosource.com/archives/q_codes.pdf |archive-date=2014-08-14 }}</ref> In [[radiotelegraph]] operation, a Q code is often shorter,<ref name=Qcode_10code>Ten-codes require transmission of three prefix characters "10-" and two numbers, so five characters, on top of which digits and punctuation are all long sequences in Morse (5&ndash;6&nbsp;dits or dahs). Letters are all short sequences in Morse (1&ndash;4&nbsp;dits or dahs), so the prefix "Q" and two letters is fewer characters and shorter code sequences.</ref> and provides codes standardized by meaning in all languages &ndash; essential for international [[shortwave]] radio communications.
Line 1,681 ⟶ 1,557:
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
* [https://txtfire.net Official TxtFire Philippines website]
 
==External links==
Line 1,687 ⟶ 1,566:
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ten-Code}}
[[Category:Brevity codes]]
[[Category:Emergency communication]]
[[Category:Fire departments of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Brevity codes]]
[[Category:Encodings]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in the United States]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-code"