I've been Californicated

Started with a new company last month hauling hazmat out of Chicago. I have an X endorsement and am good to go in all fifty states however, the company was not aware that they must possess not only a federal permit to carry hazmat(which they have) but also a California permit.
Well they stopped me at the Antelope scales outside of Sacramento, put me out of service and wrote "me" a nice fat ticket(it's actually a misdemeanor) . I was told that since the company is out of state, the ticket goes to me.The bear told me the company "should" take responsibility. I don't like the word "should" though.
Money is tighter than Joan Rivers face right now with a kid in college, 2 coonhounds with voracious appetites and a real estate broker wife who wishes to remain a professional homemaker rather than trying to sell homes in a nonexistent market so I'd like to go lawyerless on this if possible.

Any advice would be welcomed. Flame away if you'd like. I can take it. Thanks. -C

 

Heh. I also had a bad tie rod so I sat around waiting for that to be repaired. In the meantime I was able to contact the DOT manager in Sac after 15 or so fruitless phone calls. He assured me that with the paid receipt and application, I was compliant for 60 days. A lousy $100.
As far as paying the ticket, I'm 45 years old. The last time I got a ticket I was 16 so I think I might have a chance at leniency. Hell, I'll pay but I'd love to get the violations waived.
Will I return? I think I know the streets of Salinas and LA better than my own neighborhood. Pulled a reefer from Chicago to SoCal for almost three years before switching to East coast. The nice thing about that is there is only one scale from Chicago to N.Y and that's rarely open. The bad thing is they costantly overload you do to that fact.
of course I missed my appt. They took me today fortunately. I doubt if I'll get a back haul till Monday though. I'm in Ripon now and after all this I may just get ripped.

Ohh, and all I had was a bag of peanuts so I walked about 2 miles in 100 degree heat on the shoulder of I-80 to Popeye's. Love that chicken from Popeye's.