What Is a 10-29 Police Code? 10-29 Police Code

The 10-29 police code meaning for the police forces is Request Arrests/Warrants Check.

When it comes to law enforcement communication, clarity, speed, and accuracy are critical. One commonly used term in police radio codes is the 10-29 police code. So, what is 10-29 police code? The 10-29 police code is officially used to mean “Request Arrests/Warrants Check.”

This code is part of the broader family of 10-codes—a set of coded signals that law enforcement agencies across the United States and Canada use to simplify and streamline communication. The 10-29 code specifically alerts dispatchers or fellow officers to run a search for any outstanding warrants or arrests associated with an individual, vehicle, or location.

The Meaning of 10-29 Police Code: Request Arrests/Warrants Check

The 10-29 police code is used in situations where officers need to verify whether a person has any active arrest warrants or legal holds. This might occur during a routine traffic stop, when identifying a suspect, or when investigating suspicious activity. By using the code 10-29, officers can quickly communicate the need to check a database like NCIC (National Crime Information Center) for outstanding warrants.

For example, a typical radio transmission might sound like:

“Dispatch, this is Unit 12. Running a 10-29 on a subject, ID to follow.”

In this case, dispatch will proceed to look up the individual’s name and details in relevant systems to see if any legal action is pending.

Why Do Police Use Codes Like 10-29?

Police codes like 10-29 serve several important purposes:

Clarity: They reduce the chances of miscommunication, especially during high-pressure situations.
Efficiency: Saying “10-29” is quicker than saying “Can you check if this individual has any warrants or arrests?”
Brevity: Radio transmissions have limited airtime, and using short codes conserves time and space.
Confidentiality: Using numeric codes can make transmissions less understandable to civilians or suspects who might be listening in.

These codes, including the 10-29 police code, help ensure that police officers can communicate quickly and clearly with dispatch and one another, especially during dynamic field operations.

How Is the 10-29 Code Used Across Jurisdictions?

While 10-codes like 10-29 are widely used, it’s important to note that the specific meanings can sometimes vary slightly depending on the police department or jurisdiction. However, in most agencies, 10-29 remains consistent with the meaning: Request Arrests or Warrants Check.

What Is 10-29 Police Code? Why It Matters

The 10-29 police code plays a vital role in law enforcement operations. It allows officers to quickly request a warrants or arrest check, which can be crucial during investigations, traffic stops, or field interviews. Understanding the 10-29 code helps the public become more informed about how police communication systems work—and why these codes matter.

If you’re interested in law enforcement, criminology, or just curious about police communication, knowing terms like 10-29 police code gives you a deeper insight into the real-world tools that officers use every day to keep our communities safe.

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Welcome to the Ultimate Police Codes Lookup Resource

Whether you’re a curious citizen, aspiring law enforcement officer, or a scanner enthusiast, All Police Codes welcomes you to your go-to source for comprehensive and reliable information on police codes used across the United States. One of the most commonly searched codes is the 10-29 Police Code, and you’ve come to the right place to learn everything there is to know about it—along with dozens of other essential radio codes used by law enforcement every day.

Discover the Meaning Behind 10-29 Police Code and More

The 10-29 Police Code typically refers to a check for wanted status—used when law enforcement wants to determine if a person or vehicle is associated with a warrant. This code is just one of many from the standardized Ten-Codes, used nationwide to streamline communication between officers and dispatch.

With decades of research and monitoring of law enforcement communication, our team has compiled an extensive library of police codes, scanner frequencies, and dispatch signal meanings to help you better understand the language of emergency response teams. These codes are essential tools that enable officers to respond faster, communicate more effectively, and keep the public safe.

Why Police Codes Matter

Police codes—especially Ten-Codes like 10-4 (Acknowledgment) or 10-7 (Out of Service)—are more than just radio chatter. They form a critical part of police communication systems, ensuring that messages are delivered quickly and clearly. In high-stress, high-stakes situations, a few seconds can make all the difference, and these brief codes help emergency forces save valuable time.

The 10-29 code, in particular, is vital for officer safety, as it alerts them to any potential threats before making contact with individuals or vehicles. This kind of information can be life-saving, and that’s why we are passionate about sharing accurate and detailed police code explanations with the public.

Free, Accurate Police Code Information—Because We Care

We proudly offer free access to this valuable information because we’re passionate about law enforcement and the work of emergency responders. Our mission is to educate, inform, and support communities who want to better understand how police communication works. To help cover operational and hosting expenses, we display ads on our website—but rest assured, our goal is to keep this resource completely free and accessible for everyone.

History of Police Radio Codes

Police radio codes have a rich history dating back to the late 1930s. They were initially developed between 1937 and 1940 and later refined in 1974 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). APCO introduced the Ten-Codes as a standard to simplify and unify communication among law enforcement agencies.

Interestingly, the first version of these brevity codes appeared in the June 1935 issue of The APCO Bulletin. These were adapted from U.S. Navy Morse code symbols—although originally intended for Morse communication, they laid the groundwork for today’s voice-based radio codes.

Popular Codes You’ll Hear on a Police Scanner

Using a police scanner, you can hear a variety of codes in real-time. Among the most emotionally significant are:

10-7 (Out of Service) – When an officer goes off duty.
10-42 (End of Tour of Duty) – Often used during retirement ceremonies or after a fallen officer is honored.

Each police code tells a story, and understanding them allows you to get closer to the world of law enforcement without ever leaving your home.

Explore More Police Codes Today

Whether you’re researching for fun, training for a career in public safety, or simply want to follow police scanner broadcasts with better understanding, our database of US police codes will help you stay informed. Start with 10-29 and dive deeper into the code system that keeps our streets safer.

Bookmark us, share with your friends, and keep learning. Police codes are more than numbers—they’re the language of law, order, and safety.

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