Not necessarily true. If you answer the ticket you get in the mail, then you're screwed. If you ignore it you're okay until someone actually serves you with the ticket. Think about it, when you get a ticket from a cop, you sign for it and are making a promise to appear or take care of it. You have signed nothing holding you responsible that came to you in the mail. With tight budgets/lack of manpower in most large municipalities today, you would have to be having a very bad day if you got served in person for a misdemeanor traffic ticket. But then, they way they handle it in your area could be different.

Good luck whatever way you handle it.