What are the 10 rules for dealing with police?
Asked by: Dr. Lacy Pfeffer | Last update: April 5, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (49 votes)
When dealing with police, stay calm, be polite, and know your rights: remain silent (say "I want a lawyer"), refuse searches (say "I don't consent"), ask "Am I free to go?", keep hands visible, and never run or touch an officer, as these actions escalate situations; document everything if possible and remember police can lie to you, but you don't have to consent to searches or entry without a warrant.
What are the 10 rules for dealing with the police?
- Rule 1. Be calm and cool.
- Rule 2. You have the right to remain silent.
- Rule 3. You have the right to refuse searches.
- Rule 4. Don't get tricked.
- Rule 5. Determine if you're free to go.
- Rule 6. Don't expose yourself.
- Rule 7. Don't run.
- Rule 8. Never touch a cop.
What are some 10 codes that law enforcement use?
Police 10 codes are a shorthand system for transmitting common messages over radio, with key codes like 10-4 (Affirmative/OK), 10-6 (Busy), 10-8 (In Service), 10-20 (Location), and 10-33 (Emergency/Need Assistance); they help officers communicate quickly and discreetly, though meanings can vary slightly between agencies, covering statuses, requests (like wrecker/ambulance), and incident types (accident, pursuit, crime in progress).
What is the 80 20 rule in police?
The 80-20 rule is a theoretical concept in which a large majority of incidents occur at a small minority of locations, for example 80 percent of incidents occur at 20 percent of locations. In the discipline of crime analysis, this tool can be used in many ways.
What rights do citizens have during police encounters?
Your rights
Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't answer any questions or give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.
10 Rules for Dealing with Police (Full-Length)
What not to say to a cop when pulled over?
When pulled over, avoid admitting guilt ("I was speeding"), making excuses ("I only had two beers"), lying, arguing, or consenting to searches; instead, stay calm, be polite, provide documents, and clearly state your rights by saying, "I wish to remain silent" and "I want a lawyer" if detained or arrested, as anything you say can be used against you, notes Police1, Carter Criminal Defense, this YouTube video, and this YouTube video.
What does 1042 mean in police code?
Police code 10-42 (or just 1042) most commonly means "Ending Tour of Duty" or "End of Watch," signaling an officer is finishing their shift, but it can also mean "Dead Person" in some systems, with meanings varying by jurisdiction, although the "end of shift" meaning is common for ceremonial occasions like retirements or funerals. It's part of the "Ten-Code" system for quick radio communication, though some departments use "plain language" now.
What are the 9 policing principles?
The 9 principles of policing, known as the Peelian Principles, stem from Sir Robert Peel's 1829 establishment of the London Metropolitan Police and focus on public cooperation and crime prevention through community presence, emphasizing that police are the public, and the public are the police, with efficiency measured by the absence of crime, not visible force. Key principles include preventing crime, gaining public approval for legitimacy, securing cooperation, minimizing force, and maintaining impartiality to build trust.
What is a 20 in police talk?
In police radio codes, 20 (often heard as "10-20") primarily means "Location", asking "What's your 20?" for "What's your location?", though specific meanings can vary slightly by agency, sometimes indicating a mental subject or requiring assistance in some lists, but location is the most common interpretation.
What is the maximum sentence for wasting police time?
Penalties and summary conviction
Wasting Police Time is a summary only offence. This means that it is heard at the Magistrates Court. If found guilty at court the maximum sentence is imprisonment of up to six months and/or a fine.
What does 1050 mean in cop code?
The police code 10-50 almost universally means Traffic Accident, often with sub-codes for details like PD (Property Damage), PI (Personal Injury), or F (Fatal), and it's often paired with codes like 10-51 (Wrecker Needed) and 10-52 (Ambulance Needed), though specific codes can vary slightly by department.
What is code 7 for cops?
Police code "7" varies significantly by agency, but most commonly means meal break/lunch (Code 7) or out of service/unavailable (10-7), though it can also indicate serious situations like a dead body, an intoxicated person, or even an officer in danger (Signal 7 in some areas), highlighting the need to check local protocols.
What does 1010 mean in law enforcement?
Police code 10-10 generally means an officer is "Out of Service, Subject to Call," indicating they are off duty or on a minor detail but can still be reached for urgent matters, though some jurisdictions use it for different situations like a "Fight in Progress" or simply "Negative," highlighting that meanings vary by agency.
Can you tell police I don't answer questions?
Yes, you can say you don't answer questions to a cop, and it's your constitutional right (Fifth Amendment) to remain silent, but you must clearly state it, like "I wish to remain silent" or "I want a lawyer," and you usually have to provide basic identification like your driver's license and registration. While refusing to answer beyond identification might make an officer suspicious, it's generally lawful, though being rude or lying can lead to other charges, so stay calm and polite while invoking your rights.
What does 4 fingers mean for cops?
Cops hold up four fingers as a non-verbal signal, often meaning "Code 4," indicating a situation is clear, secure, and no backup is needed, especially popular in departments like LAPD, derived from radio codes like "10-4". It's a quick way to tell other officers or air support, "All good here," or "I'm fine," without needing to speak, used during traffic stops or ongoing incidents to confirm safety.
Can a cop follow you without pulling you over?
The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution makes it illegal for the police to conduct unreasonable searches and seizures, including unwarranted surveillance. Police must have reasonable suspicion or probable cause to initiate surveillance and follow you.
What does 420 mean in cop code?
San Francisco has a 420 code, but it involves a juvenile disturbance, not drug possession. Section 420 of the California penal code references obstructing entry on public land, and in Las Vegas, Nevada, 420 refers to homicide.
What is a 79 in police talk?
10-79 Bomb threat. 10-80 Explosion. 10-86 Any traffic? 10-87 Meet the officer at ______.
What is code 99 police?
A police Code 99 usually means an officer is in immediate, severe danger and needs all available backup, signaling a critical "officer needs assistance" situation, though codes vary by agency and can also relate to traffic (reckless driving) or warrant processes in some areas. It's a high-priority, all-hands-on-deck call for emergencies like an ambush, violent encounter, or dangerous pursuit, requiring rapid deployment of resources.
What are the 5 C's of law enforcement?
The author's 8 hours with officers from the Paddington Green Police Station, located in the center of London, yielded a summation of their activity with five 'C' words: control, cooperation, courage, concern, and caution.
What are the Peel laws?
In 1822, Sir Robert Peel entered the cabinet as home secretary and in 1826 introduced a number of reforms to the English criminal law, which became known as Peel's Acts. This included efforts to modernise, consolidate and repeal provisions from a large number of earlier statutes, including: Benefit of clergy.
What happens when people don't trust the police?
No one will provide a tip or report a neighbor's wrongdoing if they do not trust the officers who patrol their community. Without those tips, law enforcement cannot clear cases. Crimes remain unsolved. Serial law-breakers continue tormenting communities.
What does 501 mean in police?
501. Drunk driving – felony (great bodily injury or death)
What does 10.4 mean in slang?
"10-4" is a slang term from radio communication meaning "message received," "understood," or "okay," originating from police and trucker codes to confirm messages quickly, with "10" acting as a warm-up placeholder for early radios. It's used in professional settings like law enforcement and trucking but has also entered general conversation as a simple acknowledgment, like saying "Got it!".
What does 99 mean on a police report?
Each Patrol Station/Unit will use the number 99 in lieu of the reporting district number when the report being generated does not cover a crime or incident occurring in the Department's policing area.