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Lane Splitting Laws by State

Legal in some form in 6 states, prohibited in 27, and unaddressed in 17. Conditions and the 50-state table, checked November 10, 2026.

Updated November 10, 2026By the editorial desk5 min read
Illustration for Lane Splitting Laws by State
AI-generated illustration.

Riding a motorcycle between lanes of traffic is legal in some form in 6 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana and Utah. Only California allows it between moving vehicles without a set speed cap. 27 states prohibit it in their statutes, and 17 have no law that addresses it directly. The table follows the RecordingLaw lane splitting survey, checked November 10, 2026.

Splitting, filtering and sharing

  • Lane splitting is riding between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
  • Lane filtering is moving between lanes of stopped or very slow traffic, usually to the front at a light.
  • Lane sharing is two motorcycles riding side by side in one lane, which most states allow.
StateRuleConditions
ArizonaLane filtering is legalA.R.S. § 28-903(F): past stopped vehicles on streets with a speed limit of 45 mph or less and two or more lanes in your direction, at no more than 15 mph.
CaliforniaLane splitting is legalCalifornia Vehicle Code § 21658.1 allows riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles. The statute sets no speed limit; the basic speed law still applies.
ColoradoLane filtering is legalSince August 7, 2024 (C.R.S. § 42-4-1503(3)(b)): past stopped traffic only, at 15 mph or less. Scheduled for repeal September 1, 2027 unless extended.
MinnesotaLane splitting and filtering are legalSince July 1, 2025 (Minn. Stat. § 169.974, subd. 5(g)): no faster than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph faster than traffic. Not in roundabouts, school zones, single-lane work zones or queued on-ramps.
MontanaLane filtering is legalMCA § 61-8-392: past traffic that is stopped or moving at 10 mph or less, at no more than 20 mph.
UtahLane filtering is legalUtah Code § 41-6a-704(6): past stopped vehicles on roads with a 45 mph limit or less, at 15 mph or less. Scheduled for repeal July 1, 2027 unless the Legislature acts.

All 50 states

StateStatusNote
AlabamaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
AlaskaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
ArizonaLane filtering is legalA.R.S. § 28-903(F): past stopped vehicles on streets with a speed limit of 45 mph or less and two or more lanes in your direction, at no more than 15 mph.
ArkansasNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
CaliforniaLane splitting is legalCalifornia Vehicle Code § 21658.1 allows riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles. The statute sets no speed limit; the basic speed law still applies.
ColoradoLane filtering is legalSince August 7, 2024 (C.R.S. § 42-4-1503(3)(b)): past stopped traffic only, at 15 mph or less. Scheduled for repeal September 1, 2027 unless extended.
ConnecticutNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
DelawareNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
FloridaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
GeorgiaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
HawaiiNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
IdahoNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
IllinoisNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
IndianaNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
IowaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
KansasNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
KentuckyNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
LouisianaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
MaineNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
MarylandNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
MassachusettsNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
MichiganNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
MinnesotaLane splitting and filtering are legalSince July 1, 2025 (Minn. Stat. § 169.974, subd. 5(g)): no faster than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph faster than traffic. Not in roundabouts, school zones, single-lane work zones or queued on-ramps.
MississippiNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
MissouriNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
MontanaLane filtering is legalMCA § 61-8-392: past traffic that is stopped or moving at 10 mph or less, at no more than 20 mph.
NebraskaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
NevadaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
New HampshireNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
New JerseyNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
New MexicoNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
New YorkNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
North CarolinaNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
North DakotaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
OhioNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
OklahomaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
OregonNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
PennsylvaniaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
Rhode IslandNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
South CarolinaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
South DakotaNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
TennesseeNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
TexasNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
UtahLane filtering is legalUtah Code § 41-6a-704(6): past stopped vehicles on roads with a 45 mph limit or less, at 15 mph or less. Scheduled for repeal July 1, 2027 unless the Legislature acts.
VermontNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
VirginiaNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
WashingtonNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.
West VirginiaNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
WisconsinNot legalNo statute authorizes it; general single-lane and passing rules apply.
WyomingNot legalState law expressly prohibits riding between lanes.

What "no statute" means

In the 17 states with no direct law, lane splitting is not expressly authorized. Police can still cite a rider under general rules, such as unsafe lane change or failure to stay within a single lane. Treat silence as a risk, not as permission.

Lane splitting and fault

If a crash happens while a rider is between lanes, the first question is whether the maneuver was legal there. Where it is prohibited, expect the insurer to assign the rider a share of fault, which reduces or, in some states, bars recovery. Where it is legal, the rider still has to be inside the speed and road conditions the statute sets. Read lane splitting accidents and your rights and the California lane splitting guide.

Keep reading

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