The police code for location is commonly 10-20. CHP's aural brevity card describes a location request; Phoenix Police Department and the APCO lists give location. The question often heard as “What is your twenty?” asks where a unit or person is, rather than what they are doing.
A Location Request Needs a Location in Reply
Consider an illustrative exchange: “Unit 12, your 10-20?” followed by “Main and Oak, north side.” The code carries the request, while the plain words carry the place. This is an example of the meaning, not a transcript or a prescribed radio script.
An address, intersection and landmark are different ways to identify a place. A short code does not decide which detail a dispatcher needs, and a vague location is not made precise by using radio jargon. For an actual report to emergency services, use clear language and the place details requested by the call taker.
The Published Meaning
| Location code | Meaning in the named source | Listed this way by |
|---|---|---|
| 10-20 | Location requested | CHP |
The 10-20 reference page compares the full set of agency definitions, including lists that phrase it as a question. That agreement among the listed sources is useful, but it does not establish an entry for every department in the country.
Location Is Different from Availability
A unit can be at a known location and unavailable for another call. Conversely, an available unit still needs to report where it is. 10-7 and 10-8 concern service status in many published lists; 10-20 concerns place.
Likewise, 10-4 commonly acknowledges a message. Acknowledgment does not tell the listener that the unit has reached the location. Avoid treating three short transmissions as interchangeable simply because they appear close together.
10-20 Is Not the Same Label as Code 20
A missing prefix can change the interpretation. Code 20 has agency-specific meanings that include emergency cover, media notification and even a facility name. It should not automatically be expanded to 10-20.
If a recording is unclear, keep the uncertainty visible. Check the agency and the words around the code before deciding whether you heard a location request or a separate response term. A television use or a national list is not enough to establish the local entry.
Where to Look Next
Use the 10-code guide for neighboring codes, the scanner guide for other kinds of radio terms, and the Police Codes Guide when the prefix is uncertain. The individual 10-20 page answers the numeric query; this page explains the location question and the information it is asking for.
FAQ
What does “your twenty” mean?
It is a familiar informal way to ask for a location, associated with 10-20. The exact radio phrasing depends on the speaker and agency.
Does 10-20 mean the officer is on scene?
No. The cited definitions concern location or a request for it. Arrival and availability are separate pieces of information.
Is Code 20 another way to write 10-20?
Do not assume so. Code 20 has separate meanings in published agency lists.
Can I use 10-20 instead of an address when calling for help?
Give the actual location in plain language and follow the call taker's questions. A code cannot replace a usable address or place description.
Sources
- CHP 254 – Aural Brevity Card (01-2021 v2), California Highway Patrol. Official Checked October 2026
- Phoenix Police Department – Radio Codes – Numerical Order, Phoenix Police Department. Updated 3/17/26. Official Checked October 2026
- Public Safety Communication Aural Brevity Code (APCO Project 14, Exhibit No. 7, p. 60), APCO (Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers). Updated 1974. Standard list Checked October 2026
- Standard "Ten Signals", The APCO Bulletin, April 1957, p. 7 (list prepared by the National Operating Procedure Committee in 1955), APCO (Associated Public-Safety Communications Officers). Updated April 1957. Standard list Checked October 2026