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Here in NC, there's such a thing as a PJC, a "Prayer for Judgement Continued", commonly known as a "continuance". Sorta like a "do-over". You're entitled to one PJC per household per two years, or something like that.
The way it works here is, you go in to court on your appointed day, and there's a big line of everybody who got assigned that day. You stand in that line until you get to the front of it, where you meet a representative of the DA's office (my impression is, this is Junior Assistant Peon DA grunt work). You say, politely, "I'd like to request a PJC". The DA-dude will look at your file, and, if your record is reasonably clean, will say "Fine". If not, you deal with him--reducing the charge to 9 mph over the limit in exchange for a guilty plea would be a likely next thing to request. Point is, you know the score right there, with the DA guy. It's all worked out.
Then you sit and hang out with the other miscreants. I met a couple of cool old black guys, we shot the shit for an hour or so.
Eventually a judge will come in. Eventually you'll be called in front of the judge. The judge will ask you to enter your plea, at which point you'll say, in a firm, clear voice, "I request a PJC." The DA guy will nod and say, "We have no problem with that", the judge will wave his or her hands over your file, and the ticket will magically go away.
That's how it works in Durham County, NC, anyway.
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