If you admit you know that you were breaking the law, you will be ticketed. That's why they ask you.
I got ticketed in Cody Wyoming for going 48 in a 35; it was 0130 hrs., winter, not another car on the 5 lane road and dry and beautiful. I was livid. The Chamber of Commerce told me that they receive loads of complaints about their cops and their ticketing policies.
Exactly. Cops are collecting evidence when they pull you over and not just looking to have a friendly conservation. A person is just admitting guilt when they tell the officer that they were speeding - the cop will bring up that fact if the person tries to fight it. Some people think that throwing yourself to the mercy of the cop is going to somehow help - never does.
The best strategy is to be polite and as low profile as possible when pulled over. DO NOT ADMIT GUILT. Then if the person does try to fight it in court, you at least have a leg to stand on.
I've been pretty successful in going to court, pleading not-guilty, and having the charge dismissed since the cop didn't show up. Even if the cop does show up, the judge usually reduces the speed or has me pay the full fine but eliminates the speeding violation which is great for insurance reasons. If a person is belligerent or yells "I'm going to fight this! I'm going to see you in court! What's your name and badge number?" during the traffic stop, the cop is certainly going to show up at court and the judge probably won't be as lenient.
In Cobb County (an Atlanta suburb), the court date is actually just an arraignment and then a second court date is set to try to case if the defendant pleads not-guilty. Hoping the cop won't show up doesn't work very well in this type of set up.
"If you admit you know that you were breaking the law, you will be ticketed. That's why they ask you. "
Not always the case. I've admitted to going over, and was let go with a warning. If you're busted, you might just as well 'fess up; there are other ways to fight the ticket.