I had the same thing happen to me on the 190 loop around Buffalo a few years ago. Was going 62mph, just keeping up with modest traffic. Except woops, it was apparently branded a 45mph construction zone. I didn't see the sign. There was no construction going on at all - not for months. Not even any equipment around. Maybe they planned to get back to construction someday when the voters approved more money. To me the sign was in error. Well, nevertheless, this is a serious driving infraction in the state of NY: two convictions and they would take away my license. Never mind that the penalty I faced was several hundred US dollars. Never mind that my Ontario insurance rates would jump.
So I showed up in traffic court, in suburban Buffalo. With dozens of other charged drivers. No lawyer or paralegal guiding me. I thought I would just tell my story, and maybe with luck I would get a reduced charge. Suddenly I'm in an office with a harried young district attorney - mountains of paperwork everywhere - and we settled my case in about 45 seconds: he offered to reduce my serious speeding charge to a local parking infraction, not a moving violation, with a penalty of - I think - US$375. I was numb at this fine turn of events, and moved into the courtroom to await my charge. I stood before a stern but fair judge and pled guilty to an expensive parking offence. I don't know what parking offence I had committed, but neither did anyone else, because it wasn't a parking offence, but a plea deal. It's sort of a game, you might say.
His Honor explained that since I was a visitor from Ontario I would not have to attend a month of weekly traffic classes, as he was mandating for local convicted drivers. I thanked him, and paid my US $375 at a nearby wicket, and went out for a celebratory dinner. I wouldn't want to go through it again, but it ended well.