Kirkland resident Jan Guppy is fighting an order to perform community work or pay a fine for an offence that dates back nine years.
This week Guppy received a letter from the city of Kirkland saying that she would be given the opportunity to perform community service in lieu of paying an unpaid fine, but the notice was short on details, and does not say what offense triggered the fine.
"It just tells me the sum was not collected and it doesn't give me dates," said Guppy.
She panicked, wondering if someone had stolen her identity.
When Guppy finally got in touch with city hall, she was stunned to learn the notice was for an offence that occured nine years ago and involved her dog Chevy, who died five years ago.
On Your Side obtained the court documents, and learned that on August 19, 2000, the German Shepherd was stopped in a Pierrefonds park wandering without a leash, violating a bylaw.
"I couldn't believe it at all because I had not received anything," said Guppy.
According to court documents, in 2001 a bailiff went to the address listed on the ticket, but Guppy had since moved.
Eight years after that, bailiffs finally found Guppy and delivered their community service notice.
Guppy had to investigate to determine the original fine was for $75, and had since ballooned to more than $350 because of interest.
"It's ludicrous," said Guppy. "I just don't understand how they couldn't have found me. It doesn't make any sense."
Guppy plans to contest the ticket in court, saying she never received a ticket when the offense occurred.
Pierrefonds officials are studying the case, and they say it's clearly marked on their copy of the original 2000 ticket that Guppy was handed a copy.
