What Is a 31.04 Police Code? 31.04 Police Code

The 31.04 police code meaning for the police forces is Theft of Service.

The 31.04 Police Code refers specifically to the criminal offense of Theft of Service. In the world of law enforcement communication, this code plays a critical role in helping officers quickly and clearly report incidents involving individuals who intentionally obtain services—such as transportation, accommodations, or labor—without paying for them. The use of numeric codes like 31.04 streamlines radio communications, reduces verbal misunderstandings, and allows for faster, more precise responses to unfolding situations.

The 31.04 Police Code is especially useful when officers need to report cases where someone has tried to avoid paying for services provided by businesses, governments, or even private citizens. Examples of this could include skipping out on a restaurant bill, failing to pay for a cab ride, or intentionally using utilities like water, electricity, or internet service without proper authorization or compensation. By using code 31.04, officers are able to transmit the situation swiftly without needing to explain all the contextual details over the radio.

Why Police Use Codes Like 31.04: Efficiency and Accuracy in the Field

The implementation of police codes like 31.04 Police Code has greatly enhanced how law enforcement professionals communicate during time-sensitive and high-pressure scenarios. Originally developed between 1937 and 1940, and later standardized by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) in 1974, these codes were created to ensure clarity and uniformity in police dispatch systems across various jurisdictions.

In the case of Theft of Service, using the 31.04 police code avoids long and potentially confusing verbal explanations. Imagine officers in pursuit or responding to a chaotic scene—it is much more effective for them to say “31.04 in progress” than to detail the full nature of the crime on the spot. This enhances officer safety, dispatch speed, and situational awareness, all while ensuring everyone involved understands the exact nature of the offense.

What Is Theft of Service? Breaking Down the Police Code 31.04

Theft of Service, under Police Code 31.04, is generally classified as a property crime and can range in severity based on the value of the unpaid service. In many states, particularly in Texas where penal codes like 31.04 are directly cited in legal contexts, this can be prosecuted as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the amount stolen and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Common examples of Theft of Service include dining and dashing, staying at a hotel without paying, or bypassing utility meters. In some cases, it also applies to situations where someone misrepresents their intention to pay for a service, such as hiring a contractor or service provider and then refusing to compensate them. Law enforcement officers who identify such incidents will log and communicate this activity using Police Code 31.04, ensuring the proper legal categorization and investigation of the crime.

Why Knowing What 31.04 Police Code Means Matters

Understanding 31.04 police code and how it is used in the field provides valuable insight into how modern law enforcement operates. It’s not just a shorthand for paperwork—it’s a real-time tool that police use daily to maintain order, respond efficiently to criminal activity, and ensure public safety. For anyone involved in law enforcement, criminal justice, or public safety, recognizing the importance of codes like 31.04 can enhance communication, legal accuracy, and situational awareness.

So, whether you’re a citizen curious about police procedures, a dispatcher-in-training, or someone working in criminal justice, knowing that 31.04 Police Code means Theft of Service gives you a clearer understanding of how structured and efficient police operations truly are.

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Learn Everything About the 31.04 Police Code and the Full Range of U.S. Police Codes

Welcome to All Police Codes, your most reliable and comprehensive destination for exploring and understanding the complete range of law enforcement codes used across the United States. If you’re here to learn more about the 31.04 Police Code, you’re in the right place. We’ve carefully curated this website to provide accurate, up-to-date, and easy-to-understand information about every police code used by law enforcement agencies nationwide, including the 31.04 code, which specifically refers to Theft of Service.

Whether you’re a civilian curious about police lingo, a scanner enthusiast, a journalism student, or someone involved in law enforcement or emergency response, our platform was built with your needs in mind. The 31.04 Police Code is just one of many critical codes used to streamline communication in high-pressure environments, and here you’ll learn exactly what it means, how it’s used, and why it’s important in modern policing.

Why the 31.04 Police Code Matters in Law Enforcement Communication

The 31.04 Police Code, which designates Theft of Service, is used to report incidents where an individual obtains services—such as utilities, transportation, or accommodations—without paying or with the intent to avoid payment. This code simplifies communication between officers and dispatchers, allowing for rapid, mistake-free coordination during responses.

Police codes like 31.04 were developed to reduce ambiguity and speed up emergency communications. Instead of spelling out lengthy descriptions or risking miscommunication over radio transmissions, officers use standardized numeric codes to clearly and concisely report the nature of an incident. This method saves critical seconds during emergency responses, and minimizes the chances of error during high-stress situations.

Listening to live police radio using a police code scanner? If so, you might hear a reference to the 31.04 Police Code during investigations involving disputes over unpaid services, skipped fares, fraudulent utility connections, or other service-related theft incidents. It’s one of many vital shorthand codes used daily by law enforcement personnel to report offenses with maximum clarity and efficiency.

How We Built the All Police Codes Lookup Platform

At All Police Codes, we’ve spent years researching and cataloging every known U.S. police code, including lesser-known ones like 31.04. Our goal is to make law enforcement communication accessible and understandable for the general public. By decoding and explaining these numeric codes, we provide insight into how officers work, how dispatch communications function, and how public safety systems are coordinated.

All the information on this site—including our explanation of the 31.04 Police Code—is provided entirely for free. Our passion for public safety communication and our respect for the emergency responders who serve and protect our communities drive this mission. We’ve supported our project through limited advertising on the site, which helps cover our basic operational expenses while keeping access to this vital knowledge open to all.

We believe that public awareness and education about police codes like 31.04 empower people to better understand police activity in their area, interpret scanner chatter more effectively, and foster a greater appreciation for the complexities of public safety communication systems.

The Origins of Police Codes and the Evolution of the 31.04 Code

Police codes, including 31.04, have a long and storied history. The system of brevity codes originated as part of the APCO Ten Signals, introduced between 1937 and 1940 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). These codes were designed to reduce the length of transmissions, decrease misunderstandings, and make radio communications more efficient during emergencies.

Interestingly, APCO’s efforts to streamline police communication began even earlier. In the June 1935 issue of The APCO Bulletin, they first proposed the use of Morse code brevity symbols—adapted from U.S. Navy protocol—for use in public safety systems. Although those early codes were intended for Morse, they laid the foundation for the voice-based communication systems we use today.

Over time, these codes evolved into voice-based shorthand used by dispatchers and patrol officers across the country. In many cases, police departments developed their own region-specific numeric code systems to address local criminal classifications and operational priorities. The 31.04 Police Code is one such example—a standardized reference for theft of service that is now recognized in multiple jurisdictions.

Among the most recognized and symbolic police codes still used today are 10-7, meaning “Out of Service,” and 10-42, meaning “End of Watch” or the end of an officer’s duty shift. These codes hold both operational and ceremonial significance within the law enforcement community.

Explore More Than Just the 31.04 Police Code

The 31.04 Police Code is just one of dozens—if not hundreds—of specialized police codes used by emergency services personnel on a daily basis. We invite you to continue exploring our site to learn more about related codes, such as 31.03 for Theft, or 31.05 for Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse. Each code plays a vital role in enabling fast, reliable, and consistent communication within law enforcement.

Stay informed. Stay curious. And let All Police Codes be your trusted source for decoding the essential language of public safety.

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