How come you did not show up in court on the date and time indicated on the citation? When you signed the citation, you agreed to be released on your own recognizance with your signed promise to appear at the location indicated on the assigned date and time. There is no legal requirement you be notified about any further action.

Had you showed up on that court date and set a trial date, you may have stood a better chance of prevailing. Now, if you are offered a new trial, your going to be fighting an uphill battle.

Plus, it would help to have actual photos of the section (though a year later will make any photos suspect as to be true and accurate representations of what the intersection was like a year ago - and Google will be of even less legal value).