What Is a 480 Police Code? 480 Police Code

The 480 police code meaning for the police forces is Hit And Run – Felony.

If you’re wondering what is 480 police code, you’re not alone. Many people come across this term through crime reports, police scanners, or media coverage. The 480 police code specifically refers to a Hit and Run – Felony. It is part of a standardized system of communication used by law enforcement agencies to quickly relay specific types of incidents without lengthy verbal explanations.

What Does Police Code 480 Mean?

The 480 police code is used to signify a felony hit and run, which is a serious offense. A hit and run occurs when a driver is involved in a vehicle accident and leaves the scene without providing identification or offering aid to anyone who might be injured. When this act rises to the level of a felony, it usually involves significant injury or death to a victim, making the situation far more severe than a simple traffic violation.

Law enforcement officers rely on codes like 480 to communicate efficiently during high-pressure situations. Instead of saying “We have a felony hit and run on Main Street,” an officer can simply report, “We’ve got a 480.” This shorthand allows for faster responses and reduces the chances of miscommunication, especially over radio transmissions.

Why Do Police Use Codes Like the 480 Police Code?

Using codes like Police Code 480 helps standardize communication among officers and emergency responders. It improves response time and ensures everyone involved understands the nature of an incident immediately. In chaotic or life-threatening situations, clarity and speed are crucial.

Police codes help avoid confusion, reduce radio traffic, and provide a discreet way to discuss sensitive issues. For example, if officers are pursuing a suspect who fled the scene of a felony-level hit and run, quickly identifying the incident as a 480 streamlines coordination between dispatch, patrol units, and even paramedics.

Hit and Run – Felony: The Seriousness of Police Code 480

A Hit and Run – Felony charge—represented by the 480 police code—is not taken lightly. In most jurisdictions, it can result in serious legal consequences, including fines, license suspension, or even prison time. The classification as a felony means that someone was likely seriously injured or killed, and the act of fleeing the scene adds to the severity of the offense.

If you hear the 480 police code mentioned in a police scanner or news report, it indicates that authorities are dealing with a high-priority case. Felony-level hit and run incidents often require investigation by specialized units and may even involve crime scene analysts.

What Is 480 Police Code?

It is the police shorthand for Hit and Run – Felony, a grave offense where a person involved in a vehicular accident flees the scene, often leaving behind seriously injured victims. The 480 police code allows officers to communicate the nature of this emergency quickly and efficiently, ensuring a coordinated and immediate response.

Understanding terms like the 480 police code can give you insight into law enforcement practices and help you better interpret news reports or scanner traffic. Whether you’re researching for curiosity or learning for professional reasons, knowing what Police Code 480 means can give you a clearer picture of how police work unfolds in the real world.

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Welcome to the Ultimate Police Codes Reference Guide

We proudly welcome you to the most comprehensive online resource for police codes in the United States. Whether you’re curious about the 480 Police Code or want to explore hundreds of other codes used by law enforcement across the country, you’ve come to the right place. Our goal is to help you learn, discover, and understand the full range of U.S. police radio codes, ten-codes, and emergency communication signals that keep our communities safe every day.

Discover the Meaning Behind the 480 Police Code and More

The 480 Police Code is just one of many specialized codes used by police officers to communicate quickly and efficiently over radio channels. These codes are part of a universal language that law enforcement uses to relay vital information — everything from reporting a crime in progress to requesting backup. If you’ve encountered or heard the term “480 Police Code”, we’re here to break it down for you along with dozens of other important police codes.

You can even listen to police codes live using a police scanner, gaining firsthand insight into how officers interact with dispatch and respond to emergency situations in real time.

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Our team has spent years researching, compiling, and verifying information about police radio codes, signal codes, and emergency response procedures. We’re driven by a deep appreciation for the men and women in uniform who risk their lives every day, and for the tools they use to stay coordinated under pressure.

Police communication relies heavily on speed and clarity — and that’s where police codes come in. By shortening long phrases into numerical signals, dispatchers and officers can cut through noise and chaos to respond quickly and decisively to any call.

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The History of Police Radio Codes and APCO’s Role

The use of police codes dates back to the late 1930s, with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) playing a major role in their development. Originally based on Morse code brevity signals adapted from the U.S. Navy, these codes were designed to reduce the time it takes to relay information, especially under stress.

In 1974, APCO further expanded and standardized the list of ten-codes — making them a cornerstone of police communication nationwide. For example, when a police officer retires or ends their shift, they may use 10-7 (Out of Service) followed by 10-42 (Ending Tour of Duty) — a meaningful and symbolic message that many departments continue to use today.

Explore All Police Codes and Learn Their Meanings Today

From the well-known 10-4 (Acknowledgment) to specialized codes like the 480 Police Code, our goal is to give you full access to the language behind law enforcement. Whether you’re a student, enthusiast, journalist, or simply someone curious about how emergency communication systems work, this site will serve as your complete reference.

Don’t forget to bookmark us and come back often — we’re constantly updating our database of police codes by state, signal codes, scanner frequencies, and much more.

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