My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: California
I was down in LA for a job interview a few weeks ago. After the interview, I wanted to drive from Hawthorne to Pasadena to go see an old friend. I live in Washington, so the entire area is unfamiliar to me. I was using Google maps/navigation to guide my way to his home. Upon hitting some traffic, I looked at my device, with my hand, to see how far the traffic was extended ahead of me (I was stopped in traffic at that time). I then put the device back down into the center console of the rental car I was in. An officer apparently saw me holding the device and then pulled me over and ticketed me for this.
according to California Deparment of Motor Vehicles website, 23123(a) prohibits a driver from using a device to "talk or listen", unless that device is in hands free mode. I was neither talking or listening to my device at the time of the infraction, my call records can prove this. I also noticed that subsection (b) states a first time violation shall be $20, and my court documents (that arrived in the mail) have me paying a "bail" amount of $162?
I also found a case out of Fresno, People Vs. Spriggs, filed february this year, where his appeal won in the courts as he was doing exactly as I was doing. Think I can claim this court case in my defence?
Court documents seen here.
My question is: How do I go about this court process for the state of CA? it appears to be drastically different from WA courts, with me having to pay a bail with my court hearing, of $162? Is this different from an infraction amount? Obviously showing up to court in person isn't an option (action must be taken by July 31), unless I actually get the job (still waiting to hear back on an offer) and will be moved down there in time, so I'd like to do this by mail. Do I just send a check marked "not guilty" (as stated on the Notice to Appear I received from the officer), and state my case? As far as call records go, how would I submit something like that as well, a simple screen shot of my phone, and print that picture out?
Thanks for help in advance!

