Hey Blake, ALWAYS GO TO THE COURT DATE! Even if they don't scratch the ticket, you can usually make sure that it doesn't go on your permenant record. Because after all, the ticket itself is not the expensive part, its the totally jacked up insurance afterwards that fcuks you over.
I got a ticket on Stevens Pass about six years ago, and didn't go to my court date. It only this year came off my record. I figure that that ticket has cost me roughly $5,000 in extra insurance (because I was WAY under 25 when that happened). I actually did deserve the ticket though.......... (82 in a sixty around a corner.....)
Good luck!