Up until the late 20th-century, the force was responsible for the Crown corporation's airline, ferries, hotels, and the CN Tower, which was only severed from the railway in the 1990s.

Police constables are employed by Canadian National and are also considered public servants, sworn to the Crown to uphold the law and protect.

Under section 26.1 of the Railway Safety Act, it is an offence for any person to "enter on land on which a line work is situated".

Offenders can be dealt with in multiple ways such as being compelled to Federal Court by means of a promise to appear, or being issued a ticket through the relevant provincial Contravention Act and released.

Maximum penalties for contravention of the act for any offence can be up to a $10,000 fine and imprisonment in the case of a private person.