A court is a legitimate forum for me or anyone else to air their legitmate greivances against the police, thats why you hear charter applications at the same time.
Actually, grievances aren't to be heard in court and some JP's will get angry if someone tries to use their court room as a forum, go file a complaint for that. Court is to argue the actual charge laid and the manner in which it was laid, if it may breach a Charter right.
I didn't clog up the court, they did by giving handing out a stupid ticket. The fact that you turn it around and say the person who got the stupid ticket and is now insisting on every procedural right to be the bad guy is ridiculous.
Based on the your account of the event, I'd have to agree; either these "experienced" officers laid the charge and threatened the illegitimate action just to put it to you, or because neither knew better. Either way, it was ignorance.
No show, no pay, and a rather embarrassing question as to why he wasn't there.
And a no show, depending on the service, could COST the officer some hours / cash.