Curious. Why do I detect animosity and presumption of guilt for engaging a lawyer at the earliest opportunity? That's what you should do in a judicial proceeding, and administrative law due process and evidentiary protections for the defending party are far less than in criminal and civil matters. The system is designed that way and that's fine. A lawyer should evaluate the client's background, advise on all of the potential outcomes, and most importantly, ensure the FAA follows its own rules and administrative process. If, after listening to the alleged violater's tale, the lawyer suggests the "puppy dog" approach the fee has not been wasted. Protecting your rights, ensuring fair process, and if neccessary, ensuring fair penalty or remediation is money well spent.

Also, the traffic ticket analogy doesn't really hold in administrative law as the same agency is the finder of fact, law, and adjudication.