Should I consider fighting a misdemeanor charge of driving with an expired plate?

I currently have no criminal record (not even a traffic violation). I'm a Ph.D. student and my brain has been a little bit scattered these past few months as I've been wrapping up my dissertation. My tags were due in November (I was pulled over in April). I honestly just forgot. I usually pay any bills immediately when I receive them in the mail. However, I was having internet issues the day I received my notification, so I set it aside to remind myself to pay it later, but then I buried it under some other paper and just forgot about it. After getting my ticket, I immediately went home, dug through my papers, found it, and then paid my registration and penalties (not the ticket). Now, I realize the fact that I forgot is not a defense, but a misdemeanor just strikes me as really harsh. I thought I was getting a traffic violation (which I still wasn't proud of), but given that it is a misdemeanor, are there reasons why I should consider fighting this? Maybe even take a deferred judgment? Perhaps there aren't, but as someone who may be competing for government grants, professional employment, etc. I like being able to answer that I haven't been convicted of a crime.