In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-57 means "Hit and Run". It is used to report motor vehicle collisions where the responsible party leaves the scene without providing identification, assistance, or complying with legal requirements, enabling dispatch and officers to respond quickly and coordinate investigation.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, 10-57 at 5th Street and Oak, vehicle struck parked car and fled eastbound."
- Dispatch: "10-4, unit 9, advise nearby patrols, check traffic cameras if available."
In this exchange, the officer reports a hit-and-run incident. Using 10-57 ensures that dispatch can alert other units, gather evidence, and initiate follow-up procedures to locate the responsible driver and ensure accountability.
Operational Purpose
10-57 is vital for investigating and documenting hit-and-run collisions. Quick reporting allows for rapid coordination with nearby units, traffic enforcement, and sometimes witness canvassing. It also supports follow-up actions such as checking surveillance footage, identifying vehicle descriptions, and initiating citations or arrests if the driver is located.
This code is commonly used for accidents involving parked vehicles, collisions with pedestrians, or crashes where the at-fault driver leaves the scene without reporting or assisting.
Officer Safety And Coordination
Declaring 10-57 ensures officers and dispatch maintain situational awareness while approaching the scene. Units may report location using 10-20, acknowledge instructions with 10-4, or indicate temporary unavailability with 10-6. Coordinated communication minimizes risk and improves the efficiency of investigation and traffic management.
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies use 10-57 strictly for property-damage hit-and-run cases, while others include personal injury or pedestrian collisions. Local protocols may define how quickly units should respond, evidence collection procedures, and follow-up reporting requirements.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-57 with phrases such as:
- "Hit-and-run reported."
- "Vehicle fled the scene."
- "Accident with leaving driver."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-57 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-20 (location), 10-50 (accident/crash report), 10-51 (wrecker/tow service), and 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby). Together, these codes support coordinated, safe, and effective response to traffic incidents and investigations.