Glossary

Plain-English definitions for common radio and dispatch jargon you'll hear on local scanner traffic.

Jump to: A  |  B  |  C  |  D  |  E  |  F  |  G  |  H  |  I  |  J  |  K  |  L  |  M  |  N  |  O  |  P  |  q  |  R  |  S  |  T  |  U  |  V  |  W  |  X  |  Y  |  Z

A

• AFA — Asian Female Adult [Public Safety]
• AFJ — Asian Female Juvenile [Public Safety]
• AMA —
  1. Asian Male Adult [Public Safety]
  2. Against Medical Advice - generally when a patient refuses treatment [Public Safety]
• AMJ — Asian Male Juvenile [Public Safety]

B

• BFA — Black Female Adult [Public Safety]
• BFJ — Black Female Juvenile [Public Safety]
• BMA — Black Male Adult [Public Safety]
• BMJ — Black Male Juvenile [Public Safety]

C

• CAD — Computer Aided Dispatch - A system of computer-based tools used by dispatch to track calls, unit status, ship calls and send messages to units, search the local system for subject information and warrants, etc. [Public Safety]
• Clear — Condition of a unit either being available for calls or finishing the current call. [Public Safety]
• Code —
  1. A condition, status, or disposition code generally used for over-the-air clarity or discretion. [Public Safety]
  2. A shortened form of "Code 3" - typically meaning lights and siren. [Public Safety]
• Copy —
  1. Confirmation that a transmission was received. [Business, Ham, GMRS, Public Safety]
  2. "Copying on" or backing another unit in response. [Public Safety]

D

• DB — Dead body. [Public Safety]
• DCS — Distribution of a Controlled Substance. [Public Safety]
• DL — Driver's License. [Public Safety]
• DMV — Department of Motor Vehicles, generally referencing requesting or returning a vehicle record based off of the license plate. [Public Safety]
• DOB — Date of Birth. [Public Safety]
• DOC —
  1. Disorderly Conduct. [Public Safety]
  2. Department of Corrections. [Public Safety]
• DV — Domestic Violence.
• DWS — Driving while Suspended.

E

• EDP — Emotionally Disturbed Person. [Public Safety]
• EMS — Emergency Medical Services. [Public Safety]
• EMT — Emergency Medical Technician. [Public Safety]
• ETA — Estimated Time of Arrival. [Public Safety]
• DOB — Date of Birth. [Public Safety]

F

• FI — Field Interview. [Public Safety]
• FLNSA — Failure to Leave Name at the Scene of an Accident. Leaving the scene of an accident without providing required license, insurance or vehicle information. [Public Safety]
• Found Property %mdash; Property left which has gone unclaimed and when the finder does not know who rightfully owns it.
• FST — Field Sobriety Test. [Public Safety]
• FTA — Failure to Appear. [Public Safety]
• FTO — Field Training Officer. [Public Safety]
• FTOTCD — Failure To Obey a Traffic Control Device. Disobeying a sign, signal, marking, or lawful command regarding traffic control. [Public Safety]

G

• Green Card — A note put on file for a specific subject requesting information from the subject, usually in the form of a field interview. [Public Safety]
• GOA — Gone on Arrival. [Public Safety]

H

• HBD — Has Been Drinking. [Public Safety]
• HFA — Hispanic Female Adult. [Public Safety]
• HFJ — Hispanic Female Juvenile. [Public Safety]
• HMA — Hispanic Male Adult. [Public Safety]
• HMJ — Hispanic Male Juvenile. [Public Safety]
• HT — Handie Talkie, another name for a portable (handheld) radio. [Ham]

I

• IL — Incident Location. [Public Safety]

J

• JJC — Josephine County's Juvenile Justice Center. [Public Safety]

K

• no entries

L

• LEDS — Oregon's Law Enforcement Data System. [Public Safety]

M

• MDT — Mobile Data Terminal, a device (generally a laptop computer) in patrol cars which can send data and messages from officer to dispatch, dispatch to officer, and between officers. Often used for sensitive information or to type dispositions for dispatched calls. Also referred to as an MDB (Mobile Data Box) or an MDC (Mobile Data Computer). [Public Safety]
• MIP — Minor in Posession, an underage party in posession of alcohol or tobacco products. [Public Safety]
• Mobile —
  1. Mobile (in-vehicle) radio. [Business, Ham, GMRS, Public Safety]
  2. Announcing that a station is mobile (in a vehicle) and available for contact. [Business, Ham, GMRS]
• MVA — Motor Vehicle Accident. [Public Safety]

N

• Name Scan — A search of systems for general information, wants, and warrants based off of name and date of birth, generally used when an ID or driver's license is unavailable. [Public Safety]
• NCIC — National Crime Information Center, a national computerized history of criminal records, fugitive information, stolen property, and missing persons. [Public Safety]
• NFI — No Further Information. [Public Safety]

O

• OD —
  1. Off Duty. [Public Safety]
  2. Overdose. [Public Safety]
• ODL — Oregon Driver's License. [Public Safety]
• OM — Old Man (any male). [Ham]
• OP — Observation Post. [Public Safety]

P

• PBT — Preliminary Breath Test (for alcohol). [Public Safety]
• PC — Probable Cause. [Public Safety]
• PCS — Posession of a Controlled Substance. [Public Safety]
• PO — Parole Officer or Probation Officer. [Public Safety]
• Portable — Portable (handheld) radio. [Business, Ham, GMRS, Public Safety]
• PPS — Post Prison Supervision. [Public Safety]

Q

• QRM — Noise/interference, typically man-made interference. [Ham]
• QRN — Noise/interference, typically natural (e.g. lightning or atmospheric). [Ham]
• QRO — A high-power operation or request to increase power. [Ham]
• QRP — A low-power station or request to decrease power. [Ham]
• QRQ — A request to send (Morse Code) more quickly. [Ham]
• QRS — A request to send (Morse Code) more slowly. [Ham]
• QRT — Station is going offline/quiet. [Ham]
• QRZ —
  1. Station is asking who is calling them (or for the next caller). [Ham]
  2. A Ham radio callsign lookup website. [Ham]
• QSB — Signal fading. [Ham]
• QSL — Acknowledgement of receipt. [Ham]
• QSO — A communication/contact [Ham]
• QST — A broadcast call for all ham radio operators. [Ham]

R

• RADE — Rogue Area Drug Enforcement, a drug enforcement task force formed by multiple local agencies. [Public Safety]
• RO —
  1. Registered Owner (of a vehicle). [Public Safety]
  2. Restraining Order [Public Safety]
• ROV — Restraining Order Violation. [Public Safety]
• RP — Responsible Party (of a home, business, or property). [Public Safety]

S

• no entries

T

• TA — Traffic Accident. Can be followed with a number (TA1, TA2, TA3) to indicate the severity of the accident and level of response needed. [Public Safety]
• TC — Traffic Collision or Traffic Crash. [Public Safety]
• Traffic —
  1. Initiation of a traffic stop on a vehicle. [Public Safety]
  2. Radio Traffic. [Business, Ham, GMRS, Public Safety]

U

• UEMV — Unlawful Entry of a Motor Vehicle. Breaking into a vehicle or entering a vehicle without authorization or permission. [Public Safety]
• UTL — Unable to Locate. [Public Safety]
• UUMV — Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Knowingly taking, operating, or riding in a vehicle without the owner's consent. [Public Safety]
• UUV — Unlawful Use of a Vehicle. See UUMV. [Public Safety]

V

• Valid — References a valid driving status, concealed carry status, or DMV registration status. [Public Safety]
• VBR — Violation of the Basic Rule. [Public Safety]

W

• Wants — A records request for wants, warrants (often including identification information and driving status) on one or more subjects. The records request is generally run by either driver's license or state identification card number, or by the subject's name and date of birth. [Public Safety]
• WFA — White Female Adult. [Public Safety]
• WFJ — White Female Juvenile. [Public Safety]
• WMA — White Male Adult. [Public Safety]
• WMJ — White Male Juvenile. [Public Safety]

X

• no entries

Y

• YL — Young Lady (any female). [Ham]

Z

• no entries