Hard copy?

[muhockey86]

What does it mean when an officer asks dispatch to "hard copy" something?

[scannerfreak]

Usually it is a print out from the dispatchers computer screen for whatever. DL, License plates, history, etc..The dispatcher will then put it in the officers in box or desk etc..It could also refer to a warrant. The hard copy would be the actual paper warrant vs the computer hit.

[mjthomas59]

That is correct. Officers will generally ask for paperwork related to an incident they are working on to be hard copied if the incident requires reports to filed beyond the basic traffic stop questionaire. It could relate to a drunk driver, stolen vehicle, possession, etc etc Officers normally have things hard copied if they will be writing a report later on in the shift or if it is something major.

[muhockey86]

When I noticed things being hard copied, its normally cleared as NRN (no report necessary) and is something trivial. For example, I heard units sent to check on a man that was sitting in his car in front of his house for over 2 hours. The officer cleared it NRN and asked it to be hard copied. Also, when I hear plates or names read back, I'll hear "hard copy on file"

[mjthomas59]

As far as things being cleared NRN, it could be, like in the case of a man sitting in front of his house, that it is just suspicious in nature and while it warrants no report being taken, the incident can be kept on file for future issues with that residence/person. The person could be someone who suffers some sort of mental problem. If there isn't a report taken then whatever info the officer had (street address, license plate, DL#, persons name) will be lost by the start of the next shift unless he requests it hard copied.

As far as license plates and name readbacks, the vehicle could have been involved in a traffic accident, or like i believe scanner freak mentioned the person could have warrants. Beyond that i really can't tell you.... things normally aren't hardcopied for no reason so i would have to assume that there was more going on then what was getting out on the radio. Cell phones are the new wave of police communicating with themselves and with the dispatch center so a lot of times the real interesting stuff never makes the radiowaves.