Usually you have a few choices, pay it and it will affect your insurance in most cases, or take it to court. Some states will allow you to talk to the prosecutor and most of the time (depending on you record) they will reduce a first time ticket to a non moving violation such as headlights being out or in my case the bumper being too tall. Some of the time you have to resort to getting an attorney. I would definately not just pay it if you don't want your insurance to go up!