From the past experience of a guy I know......not legal advice:
He may have to just bite the bullet and show up
However, on the points issue: asking for no points and having the magistrate grant your request doesn't prevent your insurance rates from going up....it just means not having points added to your record.....if that's the only goal.....then one could show just show up at the court date and just ask that no points be added ....one should .have a good reason though....e.g. Based on previous driving record if applicable
If one is looking for no rate increase, then one could plead not guilty and the court would give another a court date....if one is lucky, then the officer may not show and the case could be dismissed