October 4th is Ten-Four Day

“Ten-four” means “message received.” “Understood,” “okay,” and “roger that” are some other translations.

Today is 10/4 (October 4), so some CB radio users thought it was a perfect day to celebrate 10-4, the 10 code, and Citizen's Band radio! 

Ten-four and other ten-code items got started with CB radio and police radio systems. The codes were meant to make exchanges on the radio clearer and more efficient, but many police departments have moved to using natural language because the codes aren't actually more efficient, after all. The codes that are still used are generally the codes for certain crimes and upsetting situations such as suicide. Use of a code in these cases can lessen the emotional jolt for the family overhearing the radio exchange, and can preserve their privacy for any onlooking strangers, too.

I imagine that many CB radio users still enjoy using phrases and codes like 10-4. Hey, it's always fun to know something that other people don't know!

Here is a list of the complete 10 codes, from CB World. And here is a list of police codes.