Police code 10-33 commonly means emergency traffic or urgent radio traffic. It is the kind of call that tells everyone to pay attention because the channel needs to stay clear for a high-priority message.
For the broader context, see our Police 10 Codes guide and the individual pages for 10-4 and 11-99.
What 10-33 Means
10-33 is a radio control message that usually means emergency traffic only. It tells other units to keep the channel clear because an important or urgent transmission is coming through.
Common Use in Police Radio and Scanner Traffic
You may hear 10-33 when a dispatcher needs to stop routine chatter and let urgent traffic through. It helps preserve radio discipline during a serious incident or rapidly changing event.
Plain-English Example
A dispatcher might announce 10-33 on the channel, which tells all nonessential units to hold traffic while the urgent message is transmitted.
Important Variation Note
Some agencies use different emergency-channel phrases or plain language instead of 10-33. The local communications center decides how it is actually handled.
For closely related pages, compare Code 3, Code 4, 10-20, and 11-99.
FAQ
Is 10-33 the same as a Code 3 response?
No. Code 3 usually talks about how the unit responds, while 10-33 is more about clearing the radio channel for urgent traffic.
Does 10-33 always mean a life-or-death emergency?
Not always, but it is definitely treated as high-priority traffic. The agency decides how broadly it uses the code.
Can listeners ignore 10-33 traffic?
No. When 10-33 is used, the point is to reduce nonessential chatter so the urgent message can get through cleanly.
What pages pair best with 10-33?
Code 3, Code 4, 10-20, and 11-99 are the most useful companion pages because they show how urgent and routine radio traffic differ.