Freeway Speeding Citation
So this is my first speeding citation said he clocked me at 85 on a 70 freeway, and I'm uncertain of the process. I have a few things I need answered as well please. First of the police officer wrote down the address on my driver's license which is outdated so I'm unsure of how to get a hold of the mail I should be getting. I received the ticket today 10/22/13 and my court date is unfortunately on Christmas Eve, however is the court date on the citation the day you contest as well? Or is it the day you schedule a day to contest. I understand that many people say that if you contest there is a high chance that the cop will not show up, but I honestly don't know what I'd do if he did show up. I wouldn't have anything realistic to say. Also I was reading that you can plead guilty, but when you stand up and the judge asks if you're guilty, do you say I plead guilty and ask if I could take traffic school AND reduce the fine since I don't have much money, or is it one or the other. Another question I had was can you negotiate this outside of court? Because I've seen people say that sure the judge will lower the fine but then you have to pay court fees. So I'm not sure what to do right now.
This is is Temecula, California, where I received the citation.