I just got fingerprinted for a background check. I'm going to work as a volunteer at a residential home for people with schizophrenia.

I have a 15-year-old DUI and I wanted to make sure nothing else would show up so I did one of those searches.

A vehicle code violation came up. I assumed it was the DUI and felt fine. I looked up the code number and it turns out to be driving without a valid license instead.

Just recently I got a citation because I had gone to the corner store in my sweats and didn't bother to bring my wallet. The cop said he knew I had and license and would look it up. He actually seemed polite and low key.

I paid the fine, thinking it was high, but I was busy and didn't want to investigate.

Turns out driving without a valid license is what I got convicted of, not just without a license, and that in California is a misdemeanor!

I'm furious!!!

And now if two misdemeanors show up on my record, especially a recent one, I'm not going to look very good.

Argh! I guess I can explain it to them if they ask, but what if they just say "you didn't pass the background check" and not ask? It sucks.