I had a friend tell me (supposedly worked for him) to always get the officers name and badge number. Then call the station a few days before your hearing and ask when the officers days off are, you need to bring some paperwork or something to him. Get his days off then call and reschedule your court date on his day off... he said they almost never show and it's really the only chance you have of getting out of a ticket.

Never tried it personally, I have a bit of a lead foot myself, one more ticket and I hit 12 points... not good... anyway those points should start dropping off sometime in 2004?