i am no lawyer but if i were you, i would pay the ticket, not contest the officer's citation, buy a six-pack for the evening. take driving lessons next time, produce credentials to prove that you did take classes, pass the exam and come home happy. chance my friend, makes or breaks a moment. it wasn't yours today. that is all there is to it!
oh yeah, by the way, when i first failed, the lady officer next to my seat said that i made a dangerous right turn, asked me to stop the vehicle in the middle of a heavy traffic and stomped out cussing! i know it feels bad.