Florida police signal codes and 10-codes are two overlapping shorthand systems officers use on the radio: signal codes (spoken as “Signal” plus a number) classify the type of incident, while 10-codes handle the mechanics of the radio call itself, like acknowledging a message or reporting a location. There is no single statewide code list. The Florida Highway Patrol and many sheriff’s offices lean on signal codes, several city police departments still use traditional 10-codes, and a few agencies have moved to plain language. Meanings can shift from one department to the next, so any list is a guide, not a universal key.
Signal Codes You’ll Hear Most Often
Signal codes pair the word “Signal” (or the abbreviation “S”) with a number that tells responding officers the basic nature of the call before they arrive. The Florida Highway Patrol uses them extensively, and county sheriff’s offices publish their own lists. The numbers below reflect the Lake County Sheriff’s Office list and are broadly typical, but a given number can mean something different at another agency.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
Traffic and Crash Signals
Signal 4 is a vehicle crash with no injuries. Add an “I” and Signal 4I is a crash with injuries. Signal 7 is a fatal crash. Signal 3 is a hit-and-run. Signal 12 flags a reckless driver, and Signal 76 marks a disabled vehicle blocking or near the roadway.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
Crime Signals
Signal 1 is a DUI stop involving alcohol or drugs. Signal 5 is a murder. Signal 24 is a robbery; combined with Signal 0, it becomes an armed robbery calling for an elevated tactical response. Signal 0 on its own tells responding officers the subject is armed or that extra caution is warranted. Signal 18 is a general felony and Signal 19 a misdemeanor, both used when the specific incident doesn’t have its own number.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
Welfare and Status Signals
Signal 13 is a suspicious person or vehicle. Signal 20 refers to a mentally ill person and typically triggers a response involving crisis intervention procedures. Signal 41 is a sick or injured person. Signal 44 is a suicide or suicide attempt. Signal 10 is a stolen vehicle, Signal 11 an abandoned one, and Signal 25 a fire.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
The 10-Codes Florida Agencies Still Use
Where signal codes describe what happened, 10-codes handle the radio conversation itself. Many Florida city police departments and some county agencies still use them because they’re faster to transmit than full sentences.
Routine Status and Acknowledgment
10-4 is the familiar one: “acknowledged” or “message received.” 10-20 asks for or reports a location. 10-7 means out of service, 10-8 back in service, and 10-9 asks the dispatcher to repeat a garbled transmission.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
Identification and Records Checks
During a traffic stop, an officer typically runs a quick sequence: 10-27 requests a driver’s license check, 10-28 pulls vehicle registration, and 10-29 runs records or warrants. These three often fire in rapid succession, because the officer needs all three answers before returning to the driver’s window.
Emergency and Pursuit Codes
10-33 is the code no one wants to hear. It signals an emergency requiring immediate backup, and when it goes out, non-essential radio traffic on that channel stops.2Coral Springs. Ten Codes 10-31 means an officer is in active pursuit of a vehicle. Because pursuits move fast, dispatch typically clears the channel for continuous updates until the pursuit ends.1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals
Response Codes: How Fast Officers Are Going
Alongside signal and 10-codes, a simple three-tier system tells an officer how urgently to respond. These are consistent across most Florida departments:1Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 10 Codes and Signals2Coral Springs. Ten Codes
- Code 1 is a routine response with normal driving and no urgency.
- Code 2 is an urgent response, meaning get there quickly but without lights and sirens.
- Code 3 is an emergency response with lights and sirens activated.
Officers also use the NATO phonetic alphabet (“Bravo” for B, “Mike” for M, and so on) when spelling out names, plates, and addresses. Letters like B, D, E, and T sound nearly identical over a crackling channel, and a misheard plate during a pursuit can send backup to the wrong vehicle.
Why Meanings Change From One Department to the Next
Florida law directs the Department of Management Services to maintain a statewide system of regional law enforcement communications, but that statute governs frequencies and interagency interfaces, not the codes agencies actually speak.3Florida Senate. Florida Code 282.7101 – Statewide System of Regional Law Enforcement Communications The result is a patchwork. FHP uses signal codes, Lake County publishes a hybrid list of signals and 10-codes, and Coral Springs police use a standard 10-code sheet that looks nothing like either one.
The federal National Incident Management System has pushed agencies toward plain language, but the mandate is narrower than most people assume. NIMS only requires plain language during mutual aid and multi-agency incidents; for everyday internal operations it strongly encourages, but does not require, the switch.4Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Plain Language Guide – Making the Transition from Ten Codes to Plain Language That’s why coded traffic still dominates routine patrol work in Florida, while joint operations and major incidents tend to shift to clear speech. If you’re decoding radio traffic, always match your code list to the specific agency you’re listening to.
Can You Legally Listen to Police Radio in Florida?
Listening at home on a scanner app is generally fine, but Florida law restricts who can install or carry a radio receiver tuned to law enforcement frequencies inside a motor vehicle or business. Under Florida Statute 843.16, doing so without authorization is a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.5Florida Senate. Florida Code 843.16 – Unlawful to Install or Transport Radio Equipment Using Assigned Frequency of State or Law Enforcement Officers
Several categories of people are exempt:
- Licensed amateur radio operators holding a valid FCC amateur radio license.
- Credentialed journalists working full-time for a recognized newspaper or news outlet.
- Certified alarm contractors operating a central monitoring system under a Part II, Chapter 489 certification.
- Off-duty sworn officers and emergency service employees using personal vehicles to commute.
- Government agency employees whose agency holds an FCC station license or has an agreement granting access to another agency’s radio system.
The statute also does not apply to emergency vehicles, crime watch vehicles, or any government building. If none of those categories fit, keep the listening to your phone or a scanner at home rather than mounting a dedicated receiver in your car.