On 12/22/07 I was driving a rental car and pulled over for running a yellow light. It was three am, and being 65 years old, my depth perception failed me. The officer did not give me a ticket for the yellow light, but wrote one up because I did not have proof of insurance on my person.

Again, I was in a rental car, in fact the second rental car of the day because the first one broke down on me, and had to be towed back to Thrifty. By the time I'd received this ticket it had been a very long day.

Because of being very ill, I had to reschedule the first appearance date, and either the clerk gave me the wrong date, or I wrote it down incorrectly, but I missed the date by one day.

I wrote a letter to the judge, and asked for some understanding and leniency based on the fact that I have a very limited income, and medical issues that possibly precluded writing down the wrong date.

The request was denied, and he charged me for the full amount of the ticket ($460) which was due in full or he would have my driver's license suspended and I'd be sent to collections.

I was dismayed for the amount is over half of what my social security check is each month. I took a chance and paid a $180 retainer to obtain assistance from an attorney who filed a "motion to set aside the judgement" and a "motion to set a new hearing". This was also denied by the "Honorable" Judge Gray, though it's on record that the prosecutor would have dismissed it.

Please keep in mind that I DID have insurance at the time, and on top of that was driving a rental car. In order to rent a car, one must have a credit card, and all the credit cards I know of provide INSURANCE for this type of thing.

I understand the need to teach habitual offenders a lesson, (I have had no tickets in many, many years), or the need to make a big impression on someone younger to get their attention, but to do this to a senior citizen whose already struggling to keep her head above water??

To me it's extremely unfair, unjust, excessively punitive, especially given the fact that I HAVE insurance, and made a freaking mistake, or, quite possibly an error was made against me, by a clerk, but who knows? I'm willing to take responsibility for the failure to appear mistake, because I have been experiencing some lapses of memory of late. Having said all that,

EVERYONE I've spoken with, including many knowledgeable professionals, such as attorneys have indicated it's ridiculous, especially since the ticket shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Now, since I haven't been able to pay the ghastly fine, my driver's license has been suspended. Not only by Milwaukie Municipal Court, but by the Oregon State DMV as well.

Interestingly, DMV ndicated I was charged and found guilty of having no insurance, and said nothing about the real "crime" which was failure to appear. In order to lift this suspension, I have to file an SR-22 and pay $110 every single month, on top of what I'm already paying for insurance for three damn years!

So, here I sit, with no way to get to and from the grocery store, doctor's appointments, hospital for tests that need to be done, and a large (to me) sum of money that has to be paid in full before they will lift the suspension.

Sure, I can take a chance and drive anyway, but who knows what would happen then? Take me to jail?? My only next of kin lives twenty miles away, and works a full time job, so is she supposed to be punished as well for this nonsense??

I had to make my first payment a week ago to keep it from going to collections. This mess has been the only thing on my mind since January. I've tried to fight it simply because I didn't want to roll over and

It's hard to describe in writing how this has impacted my life. It's like a big black cloud hanging over my head, and I have to way to run to get out of the storm.

The ad that I posted on Craig's List generated over one hundred responses, all very supportive except one that told me to put on my big girl panties and grow up! This has nothing to do with growing up.

The comment that I saw over and over again was that of "SENIOR ABUSE", and I suppose it is. When I was able to work, I was a nurse, and have personally seen real elder abuse. Granted this seems negligible in comparison, but I feel it's still very unfair.

It's noteworthy to mention that this particular Judge Ron Gray has made a real reputation for himself by being a jerk, although that's a watered down version of what I've heard.

Well, this is my sad story. I'm sure there are those that are much worse, and I feel empathy for all of them. I think what's important here is the fact that one person in office can have such disastrous impact on not one but many people that are trying to do right.

Thank you for reading this, and please feel free to contact me if you can help me. I'm not working, and now, because of this, wouldn't be able to because my jobs have required driving. So, I will definitely be here!!