What Is a LIC Police Code? LIC Police Code

The LIC police code meaning for the police forces is License.

If you’ve ever listened in on police scanners or explored law enforcement terminology, you might have come across the term LIC Police Code. So, what is LIC police code exactly? In the world of police communication, LIC stands for License. This shorthand is used by officers to quickly reference a driver’s license or vehicle license plate during traffic stops, investigations, or dispatch communications.

Police officers rely on concise abbreviations like LIC to streamline communication and avoid confusion, especially during fast-paced or high-pressure situations. Rather than spelling out long descriptions over the radio, a simple code like LIC helps officers save time and maintain clarity while exchanging vital information.

What Does LIC Mean in Police Code? Understanding License in Law Enforcement

The LIC police code specifically refers to any situation where a license is involved — this could mean checking the validity of a driver’s license, verifying a license plate number, or flagging an issue related to vehicle registration. In these cases, an officer may say something like “Need to run the LIC” or “Verify LIC status,” which signals a request to look up licensing details in the database.

Police codes like LIC are part of a larger system of abbreviations that date back to the 1937 APCO Ten Signals, created to enhance law enforcement communication efficiency. These codes were later expanded in 1974 by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), and are still widely used across the United States today.

Why LIC Police Code Matters in Modern Policing

Using the LIC code ensures faster radio communication, reduces the risk of errors, and helps law enforcement maintain a secure and reliable exchange of information. Whether it’s a routine traffic stop or a more serious incident involving vehicle identification, the police code for License — LIC — plays a crucial role in day-to-day law enforcement operations.

By understanding what LIC police code means, citizens, scanner listeners, and researchers alike gain better insight into how public safety professionals work efficiently to keep communities safe.

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What Is the LIC Police Code?

If you’ve ever wondered, “What is the LIC Police Code?“—you’re in the right place. In law enforcement radio communication, the LIC Police Code stands for License. This code is used when an officer needs to refer to a license-related issue, whether it’s checking a driver’s license, identifying an invalid license, or reporting license violations during routine stops or investigations.

Using shorthand codes like LIC helps streamline communication between officers and dispatch, saving time and reducing the chance of verbal errors in high-pressure situations. Instead of saying, “Checking the subject’s driver’s license,” the officer simply says “LIC.”

Why Police Use the LIC Code and Other Abbreviations

Police departments rely on abbreviation systems like the LIC Police Code to simplify and speed up radio exchanges. These codes are part of a broader group of police ten signals and abbreviation codes developed to improve response times and ensure clarity in fast-moving environments.

For example, rather than spelling out every detail, an officer can call in “LIC check” to initiate a license validation request. This brevity prevents confusion and enables dispatch to act faster—whether it’s relaying back driver records, alerting about a suspended license, or confirming ID details.

The LIC Police Code is just one of dozens used daily across the U.S. It’s commonly heard on police scanners by those tuning in to monitor real-time law enforcement communication.

The History Behind Police Codes Like LIC

The roots of codes like LIC trace back to the late 1930s. Between 1937 and 1940, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) developed what became known as the APCO Ten-Codes—a standardized set of abbreviations and signals for police radio use.

But the idea of using code-like communication dates even further back. In June 1935, APCO proposed Morse code-style brevity codes in their bulletin, borrowing heavily from U.S. Navy communication systems. These early models weren’t designed for voice radio at first—but laid the groundwork for the efficient system used today.

By 1974, APCO expanded and updated the Ten-Code system to adapt to new challenges in policing and public safety communication.

Real-World Usage of the LIC Police Code

The LIC Police Code is regularly used in real-time police work, especially during:

Traffic stops involving license verification
License status requests over radio
Reports of expired or suspended licenses
Situations involving fake or forged licenses

Officers rely on this quick-reference code to stay efficient. You can even hear it in action using a police scanner, where officers might say something like:
“Requesting LIC on subject,”
…which simply means they’re checking a person’s license.

Other popular codes often used alongside LIC include:

10-7 – Out of Service
10-42 – Officer’s End of Duty These are part of a larger, well-established communication system that helps departments maintain order and clarity during operations.

Our Mission – Free Access to Police Code Info like LIC

At our core, we believe that understanding police communication—especially terms like the LIC Police Code—should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we’ve built this comprehensive, easy-to-navigate online guide.

Our dedicated team has spent years researching police abbreviations, signals, and APCO codes to bring you free, reliable, and up-to-date information. Whether you’re a radio enthusiast, researcher, journalist, or just someone curious about law enforcement lingo, this site is your go-to source.

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