Does anyone have any advice on this?

So yes, I wasn't wearing my helmet, so I was at fault... I had been on my bike for all of three seconds when the Motorcycle cop stopped me. If that wasn't enough, I was actually going to the gym across the street where my helmet was stored in my locker...

The fine is $103, and there are two options for appealing (as it says on the back of the ticket):

1) Mitigation Hearing. I want to mitigate the infraction at a hearing to explain the circumstances... in some cases the court may allow time payments or reduce the penalty where allowed by law.

2) Contested Hearing. I want to challenge this infraction. I did not commit this infraction.

So I definitely want to do #1, and what I'm wondering is, is it worth it? Ideally, I could explain my story, have the ticket nulled and get a warning, but I don't know how often that happens. So if you have any experience regarding this, please let me know!

Thanks.

Mitigate..I just did this for a traffic violation that resulted in an accident. Both of us were issued tickets. When I went to court, I was just expecting to be able to tell my side, and get the fine reduced. The judge said, before he started hearing cases, that if the ticket involved an accident, that he wouldn't be able to defer the ticket. Well, he listened to me, and he said that even though in most cases he can't defer when an accident is involved, he would this time. So, yes I had to pay the fee $125.00-but it was less than the ticket, and I don't have it on my record. So I know this is a different thing, but I would defiantly take the time to mitigate, it is worth you time!!!

I agree. If you have the time to go to a hearing, try it. I sat in one afternoon's docket of people contesting their tickets. It was super funny, all of the ridiculous excuses... Some of the tickets were reduced, so it's possible to get some relief.