It actually works:
[S]aying sorry got you nothing if you were driving only 10 m.p.h. over the limit, but at 25 m.p.h. the fine dropped greatly. (By contrast, those who brought out excuses when caught for going just 10 m.p.h. over actually saw their fine increase by about $27.) Still, in the end, Canadian speeders who offered an apology had a 64 percent likelihood of receiving a fine (as opposed to a warning) at 18 m.p.h. over the limit, while 88 percent who showed no remorse got a ticket.
Insert stereotypical “Canadian police officers are probably nicer” comment if you must, but when [psychologists Martin Day and Michael Ross] studied American drivers they discovered the charm of apology held true.
The Dish 