Man, you guys are lucky. Here in Mississippi it is a joke. Let me share a personal story.

Very short version.

I'm in court to fight a ticket. A guy in front of me has his day. It boils down to him being ticketed for switched plates when he actually had an expired plate. Long story short.....the "judge" says "He wouldn't have written you a ticket if you weren't doing SOMETHING wrong." "BANG" goes the gavel...."Pay at the window......"

I'm up next.
"I'm just here to plead guilty and pay my fine. Please. (don't hurt me!)......"

I will never again go to traffic court in MS without an attorney. Even then I don't know if it would do any good.