YELLOWKNIFE — He’s made his reputation hauling goods across Canada’s frozen north and he’s certified to inspect tankers.

But when one of his employees misread a number on the side of a tank, Alan Scraba had no less than 15 dangerous goods charges thrown at him.

According to a report in the local media, Scraba, the owner of ARS Trucking and Welding, received a ticket in February 2009, citing him with 15 violations relating to an inspection from a Department of Transportation inspector – two years earlier.

And all that happened at that time was an employee misread a gauge on a tank and he pressurized it for 10 minutes instead of the requisite 30 when he was testing it for leaks.

Scraba ended up pleading guilty to one of the charges of transporting fuel in an improper fuel container and paying a $3,000 fine.

The Crown withdrew the other charges.

Scraba was quoted as saying the ordeal was extremely stressful. The maximum fine for each charge is $50,000.

"I thought they were going to put me in jail for like 124 years," he said of the panic he felt in the situation.

Scraba said he is still not sure why the one incident resulted in 15 different charges. Scraba also takes issue with the fact he was penalized for a mistake when there was no intent to cause harm.