speeding ticket cop didnt show up to court

I got two speeding tickets on 1/13/08 in california I 5 north. My trial date was set for 8/7/08. I showed up for court (which is 290miles away from my residence)and the officers didnt,So i thought automatically my tickets would of been dismissed,the judge called my case and i go up,the judge explained to me that both officers werent there do to a high speed chase that was occuring that morning. He tried to get me to plead guilty and he would reduce the fine an one ticket. I still plead not guilty and he postponed the trial for thirty days. IS THAT A LEGAL REASON FOR NOT BEING THERE /DISMISSING THE TICKETS? And now i have to drive back there in thirty days and lose another day of work plus gas