What Is a 470 Police Code? 470 Police Code

The 470 police code meaning for the police forces is Forgery.

If you’re asking, what is 470 police code, you’re not alone. Police codes can often be confusing to the general public, but they serve an important role in law enforcement communication. The 470 police code specifically refers to Forgery, a serious white-collar crime involving the falsification of documents, signatures, or other forms of identification with the intent to deceive.

470 Police Code Meaning: Forgery

In police terminology, the 470 code is used to report or reference crimes related to forgery. This might include forging checks, fake identification, counterfeit documents, or any other action that involves faking or altering something to commit fraud. Law enforcement officers use these numerical codes to quickly and efficiently communicate specific types of incidents over the radio.

The term “470 Police Code” originates from the California Penal Code, where Section 470 defines the legal scope and penalties related to forgery offenses. It’s worth noting that while some police codes are standardized, many—including this one—can vary by jurisdiction. However, in California and some other regions, 470 is widely recognized as the code for forgery-related crimes.

History of Police Codes: Where Did the 470 Code Come From?

To understand why codes like 470 exist, it’s helpful to look at the history of police communication. Back in 1937, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) developed the Ten-Codes system, also known as the APCO Ten Signals. This system was designed to improve radio communication clarity and reduce misinterpretation during high-pressure situations.

Over time, individual police departments and state legislatures created additional numeric codes for specific crimes and situations. The 470 police code for forgery is one such example, particularly tied to California Penal Code Section 470, which explicitly covers the crime of forgery.

What Is Forgery? | Police Code for Forgery Explained

Forgery is a criminal offense involving the unauthorized signing or altering of legal documents, including contracts, checks, deeds, and personal identification. The goal of the forger is to trick someone into believing the document or signature is legitimate in order to gain a benefit or cause harm.

Under the California Penal Code, Section 470 outlines the following examples of forgery:

Signing someone else’s name without authorization
Falsifying financial documents like checks or money orders
Altering official government records
Creating or using a fake driver’s license or identification card

If you hear a police officer refer to a “470 in progress” or a “470 case,” it typically means that a forgery-related crime is occurring or has been reported.

Why the 470 Police Code Matters

It’s more than just a number—it’s a vital shorthand used by law enforcement to report and track cases of forgery. Understanding these codes not only helps civilians better interpret police activity but also provides insight into how organized and efficient police communication needs to be.

Whether you’re studying criminal justice, curious about police terminology, or just heard the term “470 police code” on a crime show, now you know: 470 stands for forgery, and it’s an essential part of the police coding system used to fight fraud and protect the integrity of legal and financial systems.

Main Police Codes
Alphabet For Police
California Penal Codes
Emergency Response Codes
Police 10 Codes
Police 11 Codes
Police Abbreviations
Police Nicknames
Police Radio Codes
Police Scanner Codes
Texas Penal Codes

All Police Codes: Your Ultimate Guide to Police Radio Codes and Signals in the United States

Welcome to All Police Codes, your number-one resource for learning about police radio codes, signals, and emergency communication protocols used across the United States. Whether you’re a police scanner enthusiast, a student of criminal justice, or simply curious about law enforcement communication, our website is your comprehensive destination for understanding police codes, including the popular 470 police code and hundreds more.

We’ve created this site with a mission to educate, inform, and support anyone interested in the coded language used by emergency services. Our dedicated team has spent years researching and compiling detailed information on police 10-codes, signals, and radio communication protocols that are critical for effective and efficient communication among law enforcement agencies, first responders, and public safety departments nationwide.

Discover the Full Range of Police Codes — Including the 470 Police Code

The 470 police code is just one example of the many codes used by emergency personnel to quickly communicate important information over radio systems. These codes are used daily by police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other emergency responders to coordinate fast, clear, and secure communications. You can listen in to how these codes are used in real-time by tuning in with a police scanner or scanner app.

On our site, you’ll find explanations for hundreds of codes, including:

Police 10-codes (like 10-4, 10-7, and 10-42)
Penal codes and legal classifications
Radio signals and dispatch protocols
Department-specific and state-specific police codes

Why Police Codes Matter

Police codes were originally developed between 1937 and 1940 and later standardized in 1974 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO). APCO introduced these codes to streamline radio communications and ensure that officers and dispatchers could transmit messages clearly, even in high-stress situations. Initially based on Morse code procedures adapted from the U.S. Navy, these brevity codes have since evolved into the system we know today.

For example, when an officer goes off duty, they may report a 10-7 code (Out of Service) followed by a 10-42 code (End of Tour)—a respectful and emotional way to signal the end of a shift or even a career in law enforcement.

Passionately Built and Completely Free

All Police Codes is a free educational resource maintained by a passionate team of law enforcement supporters and emergency communication enthusiasts. We provide this service because we believe in supporting those who protect our communities and in sharing valuable knowledge with the public. To cover our operational costs and keep the website running, we’ve included a few non-intrusive advertisements throughout the site.

Explore, Learn, and Listen

Whether you want to learn what the 470 police code means, understand the history of police radio communication, or simply explore how different emergency services interact through radio signals, you’re in the right place. Our goal is to provide an accurate, accessible, and growing library of police code information for all 50 states and their respective emergency communication systems.

Start exploring today and dive deep into the world of police codes, emergency signals, and radio communication systems—a world where every number tells a story.

Discover more about Police Codes