In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-34 means "Remove Units / Radio Silence" or "No Traffic". It is used to instruct units to clear the airwaves, minimize radio transmissions, or indicate that normal communication is not required, often during emergencies or when radio traffic must be controlled.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Dispatch: "All units, 10-34 in effect until further notice. Keep radio clear except for emergencies."
- Officer: "10-4, maintaining radio silence."
In this exchange, dispatch directs units to limit non-essential transmissions. Using 10-34 ensures critical messages can be transmitted without interference and helps manage communication during high-volume incidents or emergency operations.
Operational Purpose
10-34 is crucial for controlling radio traffic during critical incidents, large-scale emergencies, or operations requiring high levels of coordination. By minimizing unnecessary transmissions, dispatch ensures that vital information reaches all responding units efficiently.
This code is particularly important when multiple units are operating in the same area, during multi-agency responses, or when sensitive tactical information must be shared securely.
Officer Safety And Coordination
Implementing a 10-34 directive helps maintain officer safety by ensuring that important instructions, alerts, and situational updates are not lost in routine chatter. Units may temporarily report 10-6 (busy) while operating under 10-34 and acknowledge critical communications with 10-4 (acknowledgment).
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies use 10-34 strictly to reduce routine radio traffic, while others apply it to temporarily remove units from dispatch tracking for safety or operational reasons. Local protocols may define exceptions, such as allowing emergency transmissions or communication from command staff.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-34 with phrases such as:
- "Limit radio transmissions."
- "Keep channel clear."
- "No non-essential traffic."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-34 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-6 (busy), 10-20 (location), 10-33 (emergency/all units respond), and 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby). Together, these codes help maintain controlled, efficient, and safe radio communication.