What does 10-3 indicate?

• A. Disregard
• B. Acknowledgement
• C. Be on the lookout
• D. Receiving Poorly

Answer: (A)

Radio traffic control is the concept here. 10-3 is a directive to stop transmitting on the radio immediately. It’s used to clear the airwaves so someone can speak, or to pause activity when the channel is congested or a higher-priority transmission is about to occur. When you hear or see this code, you should pause your transmission right away and wait for a further cue to resume, such as a 10-4 acknowledgement or another directive from dispatch. The idea behind this code is to prevent overlapping messages and ensure clear communication when it matters most. The option labeled as the answer doesn’t fit this standard usage, because 10-3’s purpose isn’t to indicate disregard; it’s to halt transmissions. Other phrases people associate with radio shorthand describe different actions (acknowledgement, be on the lookout, etc.), which are not what this code conveys.