Speeding ticket in NC but i live in VA???

so i got a speeding ticket going 84 in a 70 last firday night. the state trooper says anything over 80 and you must go to court. but is there a way to just pay it? its not reckless and i would have to be there at 7:30 a.m. and i live 3 hours away. theres no way that they expect me to go up the night before pay for the gas a hotel and the gas back. by then thats already the cost of the ticket when everyone else lives in that area. any help PLEASE!!!!