Request a trial
If you wish to contest the ticket, you must go to court in the county that issued it. So if you got zapped for speeding on the way home to Los Angeles from Vegas, you’ll have to trek back up for your trial.
To cut down trips to the court, you can request a trial through the mail instead (use certified or registered mail) at least a week in advance of your appearance date. You’ll get some forms back, to explain why you want a trial.
If you do go in for your first court session, it’s called a “preliminary hearing” and lets you enter a plea.
After you request a trial, a date will be assigned, and you may present your case at that time. If the charge is serious, you might consider hiring an attorney who specializes in traffic violations.
You will also be required to pay a bail amount when you request a trial (even through the mail), so be prepared to pay something on the day you appear at your preliminary hearing.