If you appeal, when they give you a court date, ask to reschedule. Usually they group all the court dates for a officer on the same day, by rescheduling, you are increasing the chances he won't show and the case will be dismissed. If he is there, you can claim you didn't see it, or claim that you looked both ways, the coast was clear but wanted to save momentum and you if you average out the speed, you were going the same as a car that made a full stop -- neither is an excuse, but they usually minimize fines if you show up. Be polite, courteous, and apologetic.