Is it Worth Fighting My First Ticket

[KyleT]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Michigan

I know in most circumstances, yes, you'd want to fight a speeding ticket, but as I've never gotten pulled over before yesterday (5/1), I'm not sure.

I was on a highway (US-131 N), heading to school. The officer clocked me at 87 in a 70, but gave me a ticket for going 80 in a 70, as well as a warning for not having valid insurance (it expired a few days beforehand). He was going south on 131 when he clocked me. Bear in mind that the roads are roughly 70 ft apart, would this help my case at all?

Would it be worth requesting an informal hearing in the hopes of the officer not showing up? And if he does, could the C/I worsen to an 87 in a 70? My only real defense is that I was passing a car (which I did not tell the officer when I was pulled over - I was nervous as hell!)

Besides bringing a valid copy of my insurance to the courthouse, explaining that it's my first ticket and I was passing another vehicle but didn't tell this to the officer because I was nervous at the time, what could I do/say?


Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kyle

[flyingron]

Passing another vehicle is not justification for speeding in Michigan.

The officer saved you about $40 for citing you for slower than you were going.
The officer saved you over $400 for not citing you for not having insurance.
I'm not sure why you would bring up in court the fact you were breaking the law when you weren't cited for it.

The court dates are set based on the officer's availability. It's uncommon they miss a court date.

[KyleT]

So I should just pay the ticket?