The judge is not required to accept a plea of "no contest" in most courts. To contest the ticket, you ask for a trial.To ask for a trial, you tell the court you are pleading not guilty. Pleading no contest means that you do not admit guilt, but you do not contest the ticket. Vehicle Code section 40902 allows a defendant to challenge traffic infraction citations in writing, without having to appear in person at court. You can submit your intent to plead not guilty instead of appearing in person. In California, a no contest plea generally has the same legal effect as a guilty plea, but with one exception. Option 1: Plead Guilty. This means that you are pleading guilty or "no contest," in other words you're admitting you did what the ticket says. When you go before the judge, you have to enter a plea.