I don't really have one specific area for advice or anything. It's a general situation that is bothering me and want to do something so it doesn't become really hard.

My therapist is going away on vacation. I just found out through a background check that there is a misdemeanor on my record that I didn't even know I was charged of let alone convicted of.

It was a completely simple mistake, but it seems like no one I've talked to can figure out how I even start the process of fixing it.

I was stopped and didn't have my wallet. The citation said driving without a license. I told the cop first thing that I forgot it. He said no problem, I can look it up. And when he included that on the ticket, he said it was no big deal.

I never got anything in the mail so I just went online, typed in my citation and paid the fine. The minor speeding ticket was lumped in with the other citation.

Turns out what the actual charge was was not driving without a license, but driving without a VALID license. And that is criminal, a misdemeanor, not just a traffic ticket. Still it was handled like a traffic ticket. There was nothing about "valid" or "misdemeanor" anywhere so it never even crossed my mind that that was in the picture. So I was totally shocked and upset when I found out that this happened.

I'm totally frustrated because I've been trying to get legal advice and no one so far has any idea. It is also a triggering because I have had bad experiences with cops so even though that isn't predominant right now, it is in the background.

I'm worried to what effects this will have if I am not able to afford changing it. Will I lose the position I'm going for? Will points go on my license that might affect me badly later? will my insurance go up?

And just generally it is an injustice that I am really sensitive to. The cop shouldn't have written that violation down or led me to believe it wasn't a problem. Plus the web site payment should have made it clear that in paying I was saying I was guilty of a misdemeanor.

One lawyer I talked to what shocked that anyone could be convicted of a criminal offense like a misdemeanor without a court date, clear reading of the charges, and opportunity for representation. He said that paying a fine with your debit card shouldn't make you a criminal.

It is taking up all the space in my head and making me really upset and I don't have the support of my therapist for a while now. Right now I'm still a bit in shock, but I fear really falling into hole about this.