1) Try to push your court date to a later date if you can.
2) As the court date gets near do a trial by deceleration. This is the first opportunity for the cop to respond. If he doesn't respond then you're off the hook. If he does respond then you go to step 3.
3) Go to court. If the cop doesn't show up then you're off the hook. If he does show up then be nice to the judge and give him your sob story.

I've had to pay a lawyer to take care of my speeding tickets twice and this is the way he did it. Both times the case was dismissed.