Cell phone ticket California

Hello y'all, great to see this forum exists!

I recently got a cell phone ticket in Southern California.

My friend and I were separately driving to the car rental place to rent one for a conference trip to NorCal. He got a flat, called me, and sounded really frustrated but I couldn't hear him. I had him on speaker phone with the phone in the holder. So I picked up the phone to hear him better and he told me he needed me to pick him up. Now was when the cop saw me and gave me a ticket. I was hoping he would let me go by being nice and telling the truth, but I don't think he believed me. LOL.

Anyway, my question is: Can I go to court to try to get the fine reduced? I'm in med school, and already in a lot of debt so I would appreciate any reduction. Is there a chance this can happen? This is my first time being stopped and my first ticket, so I don't know anything.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate any help!