OP u/showeralarmed5903 don’t listen to this person trying to blame you 🙄 they’re clearly already bent over if they’re trusting a pig’s word over yours.

you fight every single ticket you get and if you don’t you’re just letting them walk all over you

First, document it all and get pictures. If you go to court print it all out. It shows you’re serious and not fucking around. More importantly it helps the magistrate understand your case.

Make those pigs work if they’re going to saddle their budget woes on you undeservedly

You go, do the magistrate step, and you appeal it again to force them into court and they likely never show up (note: Pandemic may allow the pigs to remote in to your court date, not sure but others stated that in this thread). You get the case dismissed if they don’t show up, or at least that’s how it was pre Covid. If they do show up and you put half an ounce of effort into it you’ll get the ticket reduced or waived usually.

This is how the legal system works. It’s not a justice system. You’re guilty until you put forth effort to prove innocence against some likely tub of lard overtime scammer / govt welfare milker cop because their word takes precedence over your presumed innocence until you fight it

Otherwise enjoy your thousands of dollars in increased insurance premium for 7 years

Good luck

Ps don’t waste money on a lawyer unless it is to your convenience. Generally not necessary for petty tickets like this