Broderick Crawford played himself on CHiPs season 1 episode called Hustle (1977), being pulled over for running a stop sign and explaining to Officer Jon Baker (Larry Wilcox), "You know, I was making those Highway Patrol shows long before you were born." Baker responded with, "Yeah, they don't make television programs like that anymore."
The California Highway Patrol strongly supported this show in its first two seasons, and the production company was able to rent actual CHP squad cars. Generic "Highway Patrol" logos were placed over the real CHP emblems and studio license plates were taped over the genuine "E" (exempt) plates. The 1955 Buick Century two-door sedans seen were built especially for the CHP and were never offered for sale to the public. Two-door sedans were adequate, because the real CHP rarely arrested anyone at that time, being involved more with accident investigations, enforcement, and auto thefts. Major police powers were not invested in the CHP until 1964. The show's uniforms were copies of the khakis worn by the CHP including the state seal and the slogan "Eureka," except that the word "California" was removed. Authenticity was a major goal, and Dan Mathews' call sign, "21-50," was the actual unit number of then-CHP Commissioner Bernard Caldwell. In mid 1956, the CHP dropped its support of this show over differences in storylines and presentation, and refused to supply any more squad cars. The producers quickly acquired an incorrect Buick Super four-door hardtop to complete that season. Accurate squad replicas were ordered for the 1957 season, but the 1958 season cars differed from reality. The trailer hitches seen on the squad cars were for towing the film company's equipment trailers to shooting locations. Brand names of suspect vehicles were never scripted. They were always described as "a green coupe," "a tan station wagon," or "a dark blue sedan."
The production company (ZIV Television Programs, Inc.) made a determined effort to avoid any perception that children or minors were being exploited. The official ZIV writer's guide for the show specifically stated that depictions of juvenile delinquents were forbidden, and that it had to be obvious that any delinquent was an adult. The guide also stated that the show did not do kidnapping stories unless the person kidnapped was obviously an adult.
At the end of the show each week, Broderick Crawford would make a safety announcement. One of his famous ones was "Leave your blood at the Red Cross, not on the highway." He always ended by saying "This is Broderick Crawford saying see you next week."
The wall map Broderick Crawford and crew use, was a map of central Oregon, centered around Prineville and Bend.