Question about Ticket w/ Mandatory Court - Speeding though electronic toll booth

[dtj123]

Over the holidays I was driving from Miami back to home in Gainesville when I was ticketed for speeding though the sunpass lane on the Florida Turnpike near Orlando. The officer who pulled me over said that I was going 55mph, which I believe - I guess I've gotten careless going through the toll plaza because I've seen so many others (and myself) zip through the Sunpass lane along the turnpike. I know the speed limit is 25 though, and I definitely deserved the ticket, so I viewed it as an expensive (almost $600) wake-up call and determined to be more careful in the future.

To my surprise, after I paid the ticket I received a court summons, and after calling the clerk of the court found out that speeding 30+ mph over the speed limit carries a mandatory court appearance. I'm not clear on
the purpose of the court appearance though, and I was wondering if anyone has any knowlege about this and could fill me in on what might happen and what I need to do to be prepared. When I called the clerk of court I asked if there was any way to get out it, or to have it moved to my home county since I'll have to take a day off of work and drive almost 2 hours each way to appear. I was told that I could write to the judge and request to submit a plea by mail.

I've since been thinking, and I'm wondering if this may be more serious than I initially thought. If I were doing 100 in a 70mph zone, or 55 in a 25mph residential area, I'd expect to be nailed to the wall so to speak, and I'm wondering if this is going to be viewed any differently. I'm not to familiar with how it all works since this is my first speeding ticket ever (I'll be 28 in 2 weeks, so I've been driving for almost 12 years), and only my second ticket total - the first was 6 years ago for making an illegal left turn. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to write to the judge (and if I do, do I need to explain the whole situation, or just make it a simple request), or if things will go better for me if I just show up at court. Some places I read online implied that it might be a good idea to get a lawyer, which is something I'd rather not get into, but if it's something that will be beneficial to me then I would be open to it.

Sorry for the long post, but I'd appreciate any insight or thoughts that anyone can give me on this as I decide how to handle it. Thanks!

[mcsap]

My state has a High Speed Hearing at 31mph over. The purpose of the hearing is to decide if and how long your license would be suspended.

[Creeker]

In my state 30 over is an automatic Reckless Driving, the last I knew.

I'd bank on a scolding, minimum.