I wouldn't call it a 50% chance... Your mileage may vary...
No... I think HA was referring to you requesting and filing a "Trial By Written Declaration" and if you lose, you will receive notice of the decision, after which you can request a copy of the officer's declaration (his written "statement") from which you can attempt to plan a better defense as you prepare for the "Trial De Novo" (if you choose to take it that far).
It is my opinion that your best opportunity to request a fine reduction, is presented to you at your arraignment (your first court appearance). And since the officer is not required to be there until the trial (assuming you plead not guilty and request a trial date), waiting to see if he shows up at the trial (your second appearance) and THEN asking for a fine reduction along with traffic school is less probable than you'd think.
As it stands right now (20mph over the limit), I see no reason why you would not be automatically qualified for traffic school... So no sympathy card should be required here. In fact, you may be able to take the traffic school option without appearing in court. However, add in the request for a fine reduction, and yes, your appearing before the judge and pulling the sympathy card is a must.
You will have to plead "guilty" to afford yourself the traffic school option. Traffic school isn't allowed when you plead "not guilty"... In other words, you plead guilty, elect traffic school (and pay the fine amount + the traffic school administrative fee to the court), the court places your case on hold until a certain date when you have to complete the program. Assuming you submit the completion certificate to the court in a timely manner (most schools will automatically report completion to the court) then your case is dismissed.
the color of your vehicle and/or the # of doors are not an element of the offense. Yes, they are included on the citation, and yet they are not required to be on there for the citation to be valid. For all intents and purposes, he could have left those areas blank and it would not effect the validity of the citation nor will it effect your guilt or innocence.
Your "inattentive" argument has been tried and tested many times... And most, if not all the time, it has failed to provide a defendant with a plausible defense.
As long as he has the correct driver's license number on the citation, then identifying you as the driver he pulled over after witnessing the violation would be sufficient
I'm not sure how "dark and cloudy" could affect his "credibility" or his ability to pace your speed (I'm assuming this was a "pace") all while he is inside his vehicle... The same analogy I offered with regards to his "attentiveness" applies here as well. You will have an extremely difficult time getting him to admit that his speed measurement was "uncertain".
Good luck!

