If you’ve ever been pulled over by a CN Rail officer, you may have been left scratching your head as to how and why they can issue speeding tickets to motorists.
According to the Canadian National Railway Company’s website, CN police officers have the authority to act as peace officers within certain limits.
“CN police constables have been granted all the powers of a peace officer under the Railway Safety Act, including those powers vested through the Criminal Code of Canada, to enforce violations occurring on or within 500 metres of CN’s railway network throughout Canada, in so far as the enforcement relates to the protection of property owned, possessed or administered by the railway, as well as the protection of persons while on CN property.”
This means any road within 500 metres of a railway network is fair game when it comes to issuing tickets for speeding or other offences witnessed by a rail officer.
This authority also applies in the United States, where each state in which CN operates can grant police powers to CN police officers and special agents operating in and around rail yards.
In Prince George, some of the areas where CN police constables have the authority to pull over motorists include the CN Rail North Yard along First Avenue, all the way to the Cameron Street Bridge, Otway Road, and parts of Highway 97 south of the Simon Fraser Bridge.
CN police constables are appointed by a superior court judge. Their primary responsibilities are to enforce the Canada Transportation Act, as well as federal, provincial or territorial laws related to the protection of railway property and the safety of people on that property or within 500 metres of it.
The Citizen reached out to a local CN officer for comment but did not receive a response.
However, CN Rail did provide a statement to The Citizen when asked for comment.
“The CN Police Service (CNPS) protects CN’s people, infrastructure, assets and customers’ goods. As Parliament set out in Section 44 of the Railway Safety Act, members of CNPS are appointed by the superior courts of the provinces on application by CN. Their primary focus is to prevent rail incidents related to illegal and unsafe behaviours at rail crossings and due to trespassing on CN’s right-of-way. In doing so, they protect the communities in which CN operates through enforcement, education, engineering and engagement activities. CN believes strongly that rail safety is a shared responsibility, and so we work closely with all communities and stakeholder groups to keep everyone safe around CN’s network.”
