Its been my experience that if you pull over properly , are polite and respectful, AND don't have a violation record a mile long, you sometimes only get a warning.
...
Yes, I agree. I have respect for police, they have a hard job, something I do not think many people realize or respect.
The vast majority are good, just like anything in our population, being human, there are some bad, that goes for any occupation.
Anyway, accept what you are doing was wrong, treat the officer with respect for doing his job, be sincere that I regret what you did and will not repeat it and in many cases, like spasm3 wrote above you will get a warning.
I got caught two months ago for taking/riding my motorcycle in the bicycle lane, beach traffic was backed up for 2.5 miles, it was a really hot day, about a half hour of sitting there slowly moving, bike started running funny, like it was going to stall out/overheating.
I decided to take the bicycle lane the rest of the way. So carefully I rode the remainder of the way to the beach, must have passed 100 cars.
Pulled up to the beach and there were the blue lights, turns out someone called the police on me for riding the lane through town.
Anyway, I was sincere, along with my wife respectfully explained what I did and why by that time another officer pulled up in his car. Gave him all my proper paperwork and license. As he was about to walk to his car I asked if I was going to get a ticket, he said, let me run your information and make a decision then. He came back with a written warning and told me next time, pull the bike to the side of the road and shut it down, let it cool off that someone called them about me riding in the bike lane.
I thanked him for his consideration and he complimented me on my (lack of better words) cordial respect/sincere and part of the reason for the warning instead of a ticket.
People, they are just doing what WE pay them to do, enforce the law.