While I think it's pretty cool that so many police agencies use Ford vehicles, I have to admit, seeing an "NYPD" Ford truck parked outside my house one morning was sort of unnerving.

I couldn't think of any wrongdoing that I was guilty of that would bring the police to my front door...especially police from so far away (New York is my hometown, but it's been YEARS since I've engaged in anything illegal--street racing--in that city)...so I took a really deep breath before I went outside to see what the deal was.

I'll tell you the deal, after the jump...

The deal is, the Ford F-350 "police vehicle" parked in my neighborhood is actually a vehicle used in the television show, CSI NY! One of my neighbors knows the Trasnportation Captain for the show, and the pickup clad in NYPD colors was a vehicle that had been checked out for a quick lunch outing.

I have to give the prop "props," as it definitely was pretty authentic looking, but I did find it amusing that despite the detail and effort that went into making it look like a Big Apple police rig, there was no getting around the fact that it had to have a California license tag! Which brings up another point...while you think you're watching a show that's shot on-location in New York City, the truth is, most of the program is shot right here in SoCal...and computers are used to create the "Manhattan" that you see on TV.

I'll have to be more mindful of quirky surprises like this. Hooray for Hollywood!