🚀 go-pugleaf

Always go to court.  Always!

Go to the first (plea) hearing.  The cop may have failed to submit his
report.  Case dismissed.

 -or-

The DA may take a plea bargain.  This usually requires a visit to a
lawyer for coaching (traffic specialists are at the bottom of the food
chain = cheap).  You may end up with probation and a clean record at the
end of 6 months.

Take it to trial.  The cop might not show.  Case dismissed.  (Worst case is
you pay the fine plus court costs; a small price to pay for the knowledge
that you kept the cop cooling his heels for a couple of hours.

NOTE:  If you just send in your ticket with the fine, the court will
accept it EVEN if the cop never submitted his paperwork; you hang yourself.

I've had 2 tickets in the last 10 years.  The first one I just paid; I
did not know what the system was, and did not think I had the time.  On
the second one, I took it to trial (just because the cop was rude) - and
won.  Feels so good!