The only licences you lose when going to jail are:
Drivers licence ($10k)
Firearms licence ($25k)
Vigilante license ($60k)
I only have 1 & 2. When I get arrested, if the ticket is less than 55k I pay it because my gear value (~$20k) + licences is worth about that. Over 100k ticket, I don't bother and I go to jail.
I avoid kavala as it's usually full of people who RDM and who run under your car. Plus a lot of the rookie (and poor) cops cut their teeth there and will down you for a single vehicular manslaughter charge and then throw other charges on top to get more money out of you.
Go to Pyrgos or Athria. Less people, sometimes no cops and the cops that bother to go there seem to know the rules better.
Also if you feel you are getting screwed by a cop, ask for a sergeant. The sergeants generally more familiar with the rules in my experience and due to not being as money hungry they are more willing to listen and pardon you for small crimes.