Contest the ticket via mail.

Pursuant to CVC 40519(b) and 40902(a), you can submit a written not guilty plea, as well as a statement of facts (basically, the case you would be making in court) to the court via mail.

If you were to say, plead not guilty to a ticket in person, you would be given a court date. If you citing officer should fail to show up, your case would be dismissed. But why would the officer not show up? They get overtime pay and the day off. Lucky for you however, they don't get ***** for writing a letter to the court, so it's in your best interest to do the whole thing by mail.

Also, pursuant to CVC 40902(d), if you happen to lose the written case you can request a Trial De Novo (not written), in which you can make your case.

What was your violation? CVC 21453(a,b,c,d)?