I will tell you what I do when I get a ticket. I've had plenty of them since I was 16.
Note that my perspective is coming from California traffic laws because that's where I learned to drive and I lived there for 20 years.
Fight your ticket.
Your ticket will have a court date. Show up. It's going to be a cattle call and they will announce your name (eventually). The judge is going to ask you how you plead. "Not guilty" is your answer. Somewhere in there, either the clerk or the judge will ask you if you wish to waive your right to a (speedy) trial. Do NOT waive your right. If you waive your right, the judge will decide right then and right there and 99% of the time he will decree you guilty.
If you demand your right for a trial this is where your chance comes in. Show up, be prepared to explain yourself and your opinion. But what you are hoping for is that your officer does NOT show up. You have the right to face your accuser in open court. You have the right to question the accuser in open court.
If this was Highway Patrol then your chances of getting off this way aren't good, but a local cop? Usually they don't bother showing up for court dates. And this is what you want.
The state cannot convict you for "lack of prosecution". The officer HAS to show up and the officer HAS to present his side (the state's side). If the officer does NOT, then unless you have a sadistic judge, your case will be thrown out. That means, no fine, no traffic school - end of story.
If your officer DOES show up and the judge DOES find you guilty then the silver lining here is that the judge has discretion to modify the fine as he sees fit based on past history. Very often the judge will much reduce your fine.
All you are out is some of your time. And possibly less money than you originally expected to pay.
My very first ticket was for doing 90 in a 55 zone on the 15 going to Barstow. I showed up, the judge reduced my $300 fine to something like $125 or so.
Once, I made a right turn on red in Redlands. The City of Redlands had just installed a no right on red sign and the local cops had freakin' CONES set out to divert traffic as it violated the sign!!!! I got out of that ticket because I showed up for court and my officer did NOT!
Usually the fine they specify when you ask is the max allowed under the law. Which is why I say the judge has discretion.
Also, the courts will work with you on fines. This is an infraction, they cannot jail you. You can set up payments if that's what you need.
Lots of tickets in my 20s.