Alaska
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Alaska? 13 AAC 02.427 Rules (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 10, 2026). · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
No. Alaska bans lane splitting through a traffic regulation rather than a statute: 13 AAC 02.427(b) says a driver of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle "may not drive between adjacent lanes or lines of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." The regulation has no exception for stopped traffic, so riding between stopped cars is covered too. 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 Alaska state law: the motorcycle lane rule in the Alaska Administrative Code, 13 AAC 02.427, the statute that directs the commissioner of public safety to adopt rules of the road (AS 28.05.011), the general lane and passing rules in 13 AAC 02.085 and 13 AAC 02.055, the penalty statute for traffic violations (AS 28.90.010), and the court system's traffic bail forfeiture schedule (Alaska Administrative Rule 43.1). It does not cover municipal ordinances, license points, insurance consequences, or the law of other states.
Why the rule is in a regulation, not a statute
Alaska puts its rules of the road in regulations. AS 28.05.011(a) directs the commissioner of public safety to adopt regulations, and under (a)(1) those regulations "must include (1) rules of the road relating to the driving, stopping, standing, parking, and other conduct of vehicles, to pedestrians, and to official traffic control devices."
Alaska's motorcycle lane rule is in the Alaska Administrative Code at 13 AAC 02.427, titled "Driving motorcycles and motor-driven cycles on roadways laned for traffic."
What 13 AAC 02.427 says
Subsection (b) holds the two prohibitions:
"(b) No driver of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle may overtake and pass another vehicle in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. A driver of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle may not drive between adjacent lanes or lines of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles."
The rule covers motor-driven cycles as well as motorcycles. Neither sentence is limited to moving traffic.
| Maneuver | Alaska rule under 13 AAC 02.427 |
|---|---|
| Lane splitting between moving vehicles | Prohibited by (b) |
| Lane filtering between stopped vehicles | Prohibited by (b), which has no exception for stopped traffic |
| Passing a vehicle within its own lane | Prohibited by (b) |
| Riding two abreast | Allowed in a single lane by consent of both drivers, under (a) |
| Riding more than two abreast | Prohibited by (a) |
| Shoulder riding | Not mentioned in 13 AAC 02.427, but the general rules apply to motorcycles (13 AAC 02.422): 13 AAC 02.085(a) requires driving as nearly as practicable within a single lane, and 13 AAC 02.055(a)(2) allows passing moving traffic on the right only when the vehicles are on an unobstructed roadway, which by definition excludes the shoulder (AS 28.90.990) |
Riding two abreast in Alaska
Subsection (a) protects a rider's lane and sets the side-by-side rule:
"(a) Motorcycles and motor-driven cycles may be driven upon a lane of a roadway, and no motor vehicle may be driven so as to deprive a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle of the full use of a lane. This provision does not apply to motorcycles or motor-driven cycles driven two abreast in a single lane by consent of both drivers; however, no motorcycles or motor-driven cycles may be driven more than two abreast in a single lane."
Alaska's wording adds a condition: two riders sharing one lane do so "by consent of both drivers."
Police exemption
Under 13 AAC 02.427(c), "The provisions of this section do not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties; however, this exception does not relieve the driver of a police vehicle from the duty to drive with regard for the safety of all persons." No other exemption appears in the section.
Penalty
Section 13 AAC 02.427 does not state its own penalty. Alaska's penalty statute treats regulation violations differently from violations of the statutes themselves. AS 28.90.010(c) provides: "Unless otherwise specified by law a person convicted of a violation of a regulation adopted under this title, or a municipal ordinance regulating vehicles or traffic when the municipal ordinance does not correspond to a provision of this title, is guilty of an infraction and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $300."
By contrast, AS 28.90.010(a) and (b) make a violation of a provision of Title 28 itself a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both where no other penalty is specifically provided. The $300 figure is a ceiling that applies unless other law specifies otherwise. The Alaska court system's traffic bail forfeiture schedule, Alaska Administrative Rule 43.1, adopted under AS 28.05.151, lists the 13 AAC 02.427(b) entry, described as "Motorcycle passing in same lane as other motor vehicle," at $50. It lists the two 13 AAC 02.427(a) entries, depriving a motorcycle of full lane use and riding more than two abreast, at $50 each.
A scheduled offense can be resolved without a court appearance by paying the bail amount plus the surcharge under AS 12.55.039. If the rider appears in court and is convicted, the rule provides that "the penalty imposed for the offense may not exceed the bail amount for that offense listed." The scheduled amounts are doubled for violations committed in a highway work zone or a traffic safety corridor.
Under AS 28.90.010(d), an infraction "is not considered a criminal offense and may not result in imprisonment."
If a crash happens while splitting or filtering
Whether a rider broke 13 AAC 02.427 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 Alaska motorcycle accident laws. For the rules that apply to vehicle crashes generally, see Alaska car accident laws.
Related pages
This article provides general legal information about Alaska law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Alaska.
Last updated: 2026-10-09.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in Alaska?
No. 13 AAC 02.427(b) says a driver of a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle may not drive between adjacent lanes or lines of traffic, or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
Is lane filtering legal in Alaska?
No. The ban in 13 AAC 02.427(b) covers riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and has no exception for stopped traffic.
Can two motorcycles ride side by side in Alaska?
Yes, by consent of both drivers. 13 AAC 02.427(a) allows two abreast in a single lane on that basis and bars more than two abreast.
What is the fine for lane splitting in Alaska?
Alaska's court bail schedule (Administrative Rule 43.1) lists a 13 AAC 02.427(b) violation at $50, doubled in highway work zones and traffic safety corridors, and a court may not impose more on conviction. It is an infraction under AS 28.90.010(c), which under AS 28.90.010(d) is not a criminal offense and may not result in jail.
Is Alaska’s lane splitting rule a statute?
No. It is a regulation, 13 AAC 02.427, in the Alaska Administrative Code. AS 28.05.011(a)(1) requires the commissioner of public safety to adopt rules of the road by regulation.
Does Alaska’s lane rule apply to motor-driven cycles?
13 AAC 02.427 applies to motorcycles and motor-driven cycles alike.
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.
Alaska Statutes, Title 28. Motor Vehicles, Chapter 90. General and Miscellaneous Provisions
§ 28.90.010Penalties for violations of law, regulations, and municipal ordinancesIn forcecited in 5 of our articles
(a) It is a misdemeanor for a person to violate a provision of this title unless the violation is by this title or other law declared to be a felony or an infraction. (b) A person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of a provision of this title for which another penalty is not specifically provided is punishable by a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both. In addition, the privilege to drive or the registration of vehicles may be suspended or revoked. (c) Unless otherwise specified by law a person convicted of a violation of a regulation adopted under this title, or a municipal ordinance regulating vehicles or traffic when the municipal ordinance does not correspond to a provision of this title, is guilty of an infraction and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $300.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at akleg.gov
Cited in 9 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- State of Alaska v. Kai Davidson Meyers (Court of Appeals of Alaska 2020, 479 P.3d 840)“…no right to jury trial or court- appointed counsel.4 Under AS 28.90.010(d), an “infraction” is: 2 P…”
- State v. Fyfe (Alaska Supreme Court 2016, 370 P.3d 1092)“…ffic as an infraction). 12 See, e.g., AS 28.90.010(a) (imposing misdemeanor liability for…”
- Municipality of Anchorage v. Beezley (Court of Appeals of Alaska 2018)“…ed penalty — because Title 28 contains a general provision, AS 28.90.010, which establishes the penalty for all…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Alaska Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits, Alaska Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do, Alaska Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)
Search our full record of US law — 2.1 million sections, every state + federal →
Sources and References
- 13 AAC 02.427, Driving motorcycles and motor-driven cycles on roadways laned for traffic(akleg.gov).gov
- AS 28.05.011, Regulations by the commissioner of public safety(akleg.gov).gov
- AS 28.90.010, Penalties for violations of law, regulations, and municipal ordinances(akleg.gov).gov
- Alaska Rules of Administration, Rule 43.1, Traffic Bail Forfeiture Schedule(courts.alaska.gov).gov
- 13 AAC 02.085, Driving on roadways laned for traffic(akleg.gov).gov
- 13 AAC 02.055, Passing on right(akleg.gov).gov
- 13 AAC 02.422, Applicability of regulations to motorcycles(akleg.gov).gov
- AS 28.90.990, Definitions (roadway)(akleg.gov).gov