I got a ticket for failure to yield.

I would have to ask about failure to yield without an accident. Yield to who? Someone yielded or there would have been an accident. When you come to a four way stop sign and everyone gets there at the same time, and everyone is going to go straight, who goes first? Someone has to or you would be there all day. Does a cop give a ticket to the first one who moves? I don't care what laws a person breaks if no one is getting hurt. Just because it could happen is not the same as it actually happening.

As far as cop in the right or wrong place, no commit.

 

That depends on context, and although I agree with you in theory, that simple logic is not always shared by the ones writing the tickets.

I recieved a red light ticket in a small town in the middle of the night where there was no other traffic, with the exception of the cop who saw the light turn as my cab was passing under it.

He argued that when the light turned green on the other side a car could have ran under my trailer, possibly killing somebody. I knew he was full of bull and he must have known himself that the green delay on the other side would have prevented that.

It didn't really matter because Michigan is broke and collected the $150

 

Of course you can have a "failure to yield" without there having been an accident. It is just a matter of the vehicle that "should" have been the one to yield, did not. But someone else did, therefore, avoiding an accident. But the vehicle that failed to yield as regarding the law, was still in violation of the law.

It could be at a merge where there is a "yield" sign, or at an intersection that is controlled, or uncontrolled.

Example # 1: Intersection controlled by traffic light. Vehicle comes up to red light, makes a legal stop. However, instead of making sure there is no one coming, makes a right turn on red, forcing an oncoming car that has the right of way, to have to brake to avoid a collision.

Example # 2: Uncontrolled intersection. In most states, right of way is determined first off, by the first vehicle to inter the intersection, and second, if both vehicles arrive at same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way.

(As an aside, this actually has an interesting scenario: Say you have four vehicles come to a four way intersection at exactly the same time, from four different directions. The vehicle on the right would have the right of way. However, in this scenario, each vehicle would have a vehicle to the right, so it would be possible for NO ONE to have the right of way. So you have a Mexican Standoff here, and NOBODY gets home to dinner on time, because they are all stuck at that intersection. . .)

Anyway, in example # 2, if you have a vehicle that forces it way on through the intersection, without having the right of way, you have a violation. Even though the other driver actually did yield and avoid an accident.

 

Yes, okay, fine. There can be a case where no accident occurs and a ticket for failure to yield could be handed out. I will admit I am wrong.

The reason I am admitting this is because after I posted above I ran out to get a pizza. Coming to an intersection the car coming my direction turn left in front of me and I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a crash. He was turning left and should have yielded to oncoming traffic. So there, I am wrong. But I still don't like cops.

 

OK, you have the right to not like cops. They probably aren't real fond of you either.