How do I read a police report?

Police reports use standardized codes, abbreviations, and statute citations that can be confusing for non-officers. Our free Police Report Decoder translates every code and abbreviation into plain English so you can understand exactly what happened.

What do the codes V1, V2, W1 mean in a police report?

V1 and V2 refer to Vehicle 1 and Vehicle 2 in the order the officer listed them. W1 refers to Witness 1. These shorthand labels help officers organize the parties and witnesses involved in an incident.

What is FS 316.075 on a police report?

FS 316.075 is the Florida Statute for traffic control signal devices, commonly cited as a red light violation. It governs the duties of drivers approaching intersections with traffic signals.

What does C/O mean in a police report?

C/O stands for 'Complaint of' and indicates the person reported pain or a symptom at the scene. For example, 'C/O neck pain' means the person complained of neck pain to the responding officer.

What does 10-50 mean on a police report?

10-50 is the police radio code for a traffic crash. It is part of the ten-code system used by law enforcement to communicate common situations quickly over radio.

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Your police report is full of codes.Here's what they actually mean.

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Paste any line, paragraph, or full police report below. This tool scans for 303+ codes, abbreviations, and Florida statutes — and translates each one into plain English. Nothing leaves your browser.

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Understanding Your Report

The eight sectionsevery police report contains.

Every Florida traffic crash report follows the same structure. Knowing where to look helps you find the information that matters most.

Header & Case Information

Case number, ORI (agency identifier), date, time, and location of the incident. This is where you find when and where it happened and which agency investigated.

Parties Involved

Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and witnesses — each assigned a label (V1, V2, W1, etc.) with their name, DOB, DL number, and demographic descriptors.

Vehicle Information

Year, make, model, color, tag number, and VIN for each vehicle. Also lists insurance information (BI, PD, PIP, UM) and direction of travel.

Narrative

The officer's written account of what happened — the most important section for understanding how the crash occurred and who may be at fault. Written from the officer's perspective based on the scene and statements.

Witness Statements

Recorded statements from witnesses at the scene. Witnesses are labeled W1, W2, etc. Their accounts can corroborate or contradict the drivers' versions of events.

Charges & Citations

Florida Statutes cited against each party. These are the violations the officer determined occurred — running a red light (FS 316.075), DUI (FS 316.193), speeding (FS 316.183), etc.

Injuries & Medical

Medical information documented at the scene: complaints of pain (C/O), EMS transport, loss of consciousness (LOC), GCS score, and whether anyone refused medical attention (RMA).

Diagram & Evidence

Crash diagram showing vehicle positions, directions of travel, and point of impact. Also lists evidence collected: photographs (PHO), body camera footage (BWC), dashcam video (DASH).

Code Reference

Common code categoriesyou will find in your report.

Police reports use shorthand from several different code systems. Here are the six most common categories with examples.

PARTY CODES

Party & Role Identifiers

Shorthand labels that identify each person involved in the incident by their role.

Code	Meaning
V1	Vehicle 1 (first vehicle listed)
W1	Witness 1
RP	Reporting Party

10-CODES

Police Radio Codes

Standardized radio shorthand used by law enforcement to communicate common situations.

Code	Meaning
10-50	Traffic crash
10-50PI	Crash with personal injury
10-55	DUI / intoxicated driver

FLORIDA STATUTES

Florida Traffic Statutes

Specific state laws cited in the report — violations, duties, and requirements.

Code	Meaning
FS 316.193	DUI
FS 316.075	Red light violation
FS 316.183	Speeding

MEDICAL / EMS

Medical & EMS Codes

Abbreviations used to document injuries, medical response, and patient status at the scene.

Code	Meaning
C/O	Complaint of (reported symptom)
LOC	Loss of consciousness
GCS	Glasgow Coma Scale score

VEHICLE / INSURANCE

Vehicle & Damage Codes

Abbreviations for vehicle descriptions, damage locations, insurance types, and makes.

Code	Meaning
PIP	Personal Injury Protection
TOTL	Total loss
F/L	Front Left

STATUS / DISPOSITION

Status & Disposition Codes

Codes indicating what happened with the investigation, suspect, or case.

Code	Meaning
ARR	Arrest made
BOLO	Be On the Lookout
GOA	Gone on Arrival

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Ready to seethe bigger picturebehind the codes?

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Educational use only. This tool provides general translations of common police report codes and abbreviations for educational purposes. It does not provide legal advice, interpret fault or liability, evaluate damages, or substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney. Code meanings may vary by jurisdiction, department, and context. Caseworth is not a law firm and does not practice law. If you have been involved in an accident, consult with a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.