It helps to get support because posting here is not really about getting help with the legal issues, but trying to prevent this from really pulling me down, especially given that my therapist is away for a while and I've been trying to pull out of a depressive episode so in close touch with him, trying to remove stressors and be more optimistic.

This type of thing just ends up proving to me that there is no reason to have optimism unless you are in the lucky group. I'm certainly not and haven't been at any point in my life. The cost, the unfairness, the cop who shouldn't have written 12500 but 12591, which the law specifically states, the stupid auto payment system that doesn't even let you know there are criminal charges involved, the whole thing is a pile of crap. I'm tired of dealing with messes that really are not my fault but are created by neglectful or mean people.

So maybe I can find a low cost attorney who knows about this, or maybe I'll just decide to leave it on my record and hope it doesn't cause a problem. But the impact of being totally caught by surprise and having no power, seeing no real clear way through, and just burdened with time, expense, hassle and worry. Just not fair and still upsetting.