Can a Motorcyclist Legally Ride between Lanes in the Lone Star State?
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or take a motorcycle everywhere you go, you need to know the laws governing and potential consequences of lane splitting in Texas. It’s a common practice across the country, but it’s come under the microscope in recent years. In Texas, as in every state except California, the practice is against the law.
What Is Lane-Splitting?
Lane-splitting, and a similar practice known as lane-filtering, involves positioning a motorcycle between two vehicles side-by-side traveling in the same direction. Whereas lane-splitting occurs when the vehicles are traveling down the road, lane-filtering generally refers to pulling up between two stopped cars. While California is the only state that allows lane-splitting, five other states—Utah, Montana, Arizona, Colorado and Hawaii—allow lane filtering.
There’s also a practice among motorcycle operators known as “lane sharing,” where two or more motorcycles ride abreast in the same lane. That practice remains legal in Texas, provided all persons participating agree and provided that doing so does not affect the reasonable flow or movement of traffic.
New Texas Law Clearly Outlaws Lane Splitting
Until 2023, the legality of lane-splitting in Texas was unclear. It was commonly done and rarely led to a citation. However, last year, the Texas legislature passed a law making it illegal for a motorcycle operator to:
- Travel between lanes of traffic going in the same direction or
- Passing another motor vehicle in the same lane as the vehicle being passed
The potential fine for lane-splitting is $175.
Let Us Help Protect Your Rights after a Motorcycle Accident
At the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz, we have more than 26 years of experience protecting the rights of personal injury victims in Harlingen, McAllen, Brownsville and Houston, across Texas and nationwide. We have extensive experience protecting the rights of people who have been hurt in motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle wrecks. We will use our considerable experience, skill, knowledge and resources to help you get the outcome you want. Free call, text or chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week–https://delapazlaw.com/.
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