In APCO, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials 10-codes, 10-96 means "Vehicle Disabled", "Mechanical Failure", or "Breakdown". It is used by officers, dispatchers, or roadside assistance personnel to report vehicles that are stalled, inoperable, or creating a hazard on roadways, ensuring prompt response and public safety.
Here’s how it might be used in a real-world scenario:
- Officer: "Dispatch, unit 4, 10-96 at Oak Street and 7th Avenue, vehicle disabled in right lane."
- Dispatch: "10-4, unit 4 noted, towing service and traffic control en route."
In this exchange, the officer communicates that a vehicle is disabled and potentially obstructing traffic. Using 10-96 ensures dispatch can coordinate towing, traffic management, and any needed safety measures.
Operational Purpose
10-96 is essential for maintaining roadway safety and traffic flow. Prompt reporting of disabled vehicles allows officers or roadside personnel to prevent accidents, reduce congestion, and assist motorists efficiently.
This code is commonly used in situations such as:
- Vehicles stalled on highways, intersections, or travel lanes
- Mechanical failures posing a hazard to other motorists
- Vehicles involved in minor collisions that cannot move under their own power
- Situations requiring towing, traffic redirection, or roadside assistance
Officer Safety And Coordination
Declaring 10-96 ensures dispatch, responding units, and towing or roadside services are aware of the situation. Units may report location using 10-20, acknowledge instructions with 10-4, request assistance with 10-74, or indicate arrival with 10-23. Coordinated response improves safety, expedites vehicle removal, and minimizes disruption to traffic.
Variations And Agency Practices
Some agencies differentiate between minor mechanical failures, disabled vehicles creating immediate hazards, and abandoned vehicles. Local procedures may define towing authority, traffic control measures, and documentation requirements for 10-96 incidents.
Plain-Language Alternatives
Agencies emphasizing plain-language communication may replace 10-96 with phrases such as:
- "Vehicle disabled on roadway, units respond."
- "Mechanical failure reported, towing required."
- "Vehicle breakdown creating traffic hazard, manage scene."
Related 10-Codes
Codes commonly associated with 10-96 include 10-4 (acknowledgment), 10-20 (location), 10-23 (arrived on scene/standby), 10-74 (assist/backup requested), and 10-92 (improperly parked vehicle). Together, these codes ensure coordinated, safe, and effective management of disabled vehicles.