Alabama
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Alabama? Code 32-5A-242 (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 10, 2026). · 6 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
No. Lane splitting is illegal in Alabama, and so is lane filtering between stopped cars. Ala. Code 32-5A-242(c) says "No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles," and the section's only exception is for police officers performing their official duties. For how other states handle the same maneuvers, see our guide to lane splitting laws by state.
Information last verified on 2026-10-09. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Alabama state law: the motorcycle lane rules in Ala. Code 32-5A-242, the general lane-use rule in Ala. Code 32-5A-88, the passing-on-the-right rule in Ala. Code 32-5A-83, the roadway definition in Ala. Code 32-1-1.1, and the default traffic penalty in Ala. Code 32-5A-8. It does not cover municipal ordinances, license points, insurance consequences, or the law of other states.
Splitting, filtering, shoulders and riding two abreast
Riders use these terms for different maneuvers. Alabama's statute does not use the words "splitting" or "filtering"; it describes where a motorcycle may and may not be operated.
| Maneuver | What it means | Alabama rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lane splitting | Riding between lanes or rows of moving vehicles | Prohibited by Ala. Code 32-5A-242(c) |
| Lane filtering | Riding between rows of stopped vehicles, for example at a red light | Prohibited by the same subsection, which contains no exception for stopped traffic |
| Passing in the same lane | Overtaking a car within the lane it occupies | Prohibited by 32-5A-242(b) |
| Shoulder riding | Using the shoulder to get past traffic | Not mentioned in 32-5A-242, but 32-5A-83(b) says passing on the right "shall not be made by driving off the roadway," and the roadway excludes the shoulder (32-1-1.1(59)); 32-5A-88(1) also requires a vehicle to be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane |
| Riding two abreast | Two motorcycles side by side in one lane | Allowed; more than two abreast is prohibited by 32-5A-242(d) |
What Alabama Code 32-5A-242 says
Section 32-5A-242, titled "Operating Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic," is short. Its full text reads:
"(a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane. (b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. (d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane. (e) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties."
Subsection (c) is the lane splitting rule. It covers two situations: riding between lanes of traffic, and riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. Nothing in the subsection limits it to moving traffic, so the same words reach a rider who threads between cars stopped at a light.
Subsection (a) works in the rider's favor. A driver may not crowd a motorcycle out of its lane, because every motorcycle is entitled to the full use of one. That protection does not apply when two motorcycles share a lane side by side.
Subsection (e) exempts police officers in the performance of their official duties from (b) and (c). No other rider, group or type of road is exempted in the section.
The section's history note cites only its enactment, Acts 1980, No. 80-434.
The general rule for laned roadways
Alabama also has a lane-use rule for every vehicle. Ala. Code 32-5A-88(1) provides that "A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane" and that it shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has first made sure the movement can be made safely. Section 32-5A-242 does not mention shoulders, but two general rules apply to a rider who leaves the lane. Ala. Code 32-5A-83(b) says passing on the right "shall not be made by driving off the roadway," and Ala. Code 32-1-1.1(59) defines the roadway as "exclusive of the berm or shoulder." Under Ala. Code 32-5A-240(a), a motorcyclist is subject to all of the duties that apply to the driver of any other vehicle under the chapter.
Penalty for lane splitting in Alabama
Section 32-5A-242 does not set its own penalty. The default rule is in Ala. Code 32-5A-8(a): "It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter or of Title 32, unless such violation is by this chapter or other law of this state declared to be a felony."
Section 32-5A-8(b) then sets maximum punishments for a chapter violation "for which another penalty is not provided":
| Conviction | Maximum fine | Maximum jail |
|---|---|---|
| First conviction | $100 | 10 days (fine or jail) |
| Second offense within one year of the first | $200 | 30 days (fine, jail, or both) |
| Third or later offense within one year of the first | $500 | Three months (fine, jail, or both) |
These are statutory maximums, not the amount on a typical ticket. Court costs and any license or insurance effects are outside this page.
Where Alabama's wording comes from
Alabama's section matches, subsection for subsection, section 11-1303 of the 1968 revision of the Uniform Vehicle Code, a model traffic code published by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances. The between-lanes ban in Alabama's subsection (c) is that model code's subsection (c), word for word.
If a crash happens while splitting or filtering
Whether a rider was operating in violation of 32-5A-242 can come up after a collision, but it is one fact among many in a fault and injury claim. For how fault, insurance and filing deadlines work, see our guide to Alabama motorcycle accident laws. For the rules that apply to vehicle crashes generally, see Alabama car accident laws.
Related pages
This article provides general legal information about Alabama law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Alabama.
Last updated: 2026-10-09.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in Alabama?
No. Ala. Code 32-5A-242(c) says no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. Only police officers performing official duties are exempt.
Is lane filtering at a red light legal in Alabama?
No. The ban in Ala. Code 32-5A-242(c) covers riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and contains no exception for stopped traffic.
Can two motorcycles ride side by side in one lane in Alabama?
Yes. Ala. Code 32-5A-242(d) prohibits operating motorcycles more than two abreast in a single lane, so two abreast is within the rule.
Can a motorcycle pass a car in the same lane in Alabama?
No. Ala. Code 32-5A-242(b) says the operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.
What is the penalty for lane splitting in Alabama?
A violation is a misdemeanor under Ala. Code 32-5A-8(a). Where no other penalty is provided, a first conviction carries up to a $100 fine or up to 10 days in jail, with higher maximums for repeat offenses within a year.
Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Alabama?
Not to pass traffic. Ala. Code 32-5A-242 does not mention shoulders, but Ala. Code 32-5A-83(b) says a vehicle passing on the right shall not do so by driving off the roadway, and Ala. Code 32-1-1.1(59) defines the roadway as excluding the shoulder. The general rule in 32-5A-88(1) also requires a vehicle on a laned roadway to be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane.
Updates
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Code of Alabama 1975, Title 32: Motor Vehicles and Traffic.
§ 32-5A-242Operating Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
(a) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. This subsection shall not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane. (b) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. (d) Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane. (e) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at alison.legislature.state.al.us
Also relied on in: Motorcycle Accident Laws in Alabama (2026): Deadlines & Helmets
§ 32-1-1.1Definitions.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
The following words and phrases when used in this title have the following meanings, except when the context otherwise requires: (1) ALLEY. A street or highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic. (2) ARTERIAL STREET. Any federal or state numbered route, controlled-access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designated by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways. (3) AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Fire department vehicles, police vehicles, and ambulances that are publicly owned, and other publicly or privately owned vehicles that are designated by the director or the chief of police of an incorporated city. (4) BICYCLE. Every device propelled by human power upon which any individual may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is more than 14 inches in diameter. (5) BUS.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at alison.legislature.state.al.us
Cited in 7 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2023
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Garrett v. Alfa Mut. Ins. Co. (Supreme Court of Alabama 1991, 584 So. 2d 1327)“…statutory definition of "implement of husbandry," found at Ala. Code 1975, § 32-1-1.1 (25): "IMPLEMENT OF HUSBANDRY. Ever…”
- Morris v. State (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama 1994, 659 So. 2d 980)“…l person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation.” Ala.Code 1975, § 32-1-1.1(42). The propriety of the appellant’s c…”
- Mozingo v. City of Dothan (Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama 1991, 603 So. 2d 1119)“…ve-quoted portions of § 32-6-19 are specifically defined in Ala.Code 1975, § 32-1-1.1: “(7) CANCELLATION OF DRIVER’S LICENS…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Alabama E-Scooter Laws: Sidewalk, Helmet & Age Rules (2026)
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Sources and References
- Ala. Code 32-5A-242, Operating Motorcycles on Roadways Laned for Traffic(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Ala. Code 32-5A-88(1), single-lane rule for laned roadways(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Ala. Code 32-5A-83, When Passing on Right Permitted(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Ala. Code 32-1-1.1(59), definition of roadway(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Ala. Code 32-5A-240(a), motorcyclists subject to the duties of drivers(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Ala. Code 32-5A-8, Violations as Misdemeanor; Penalties(alison.legislature.state.al.us).gov
- Uniform Vehicle Code and Model Traffic Ordinance, Revised 1968, section 11-1303(law.resource.org)