Louisiana
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Louisiana? (2026 Law and Penalty)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 8, 2026). · 6 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Lane splitting is prohibited in Louisiana. La. R.S. 32:191.1(C) provides: "No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." That wording also reaches lane filtering between stopped cars, because the section's only exemption is for police officers on duty. The section sets no fine of its own; the general penalty for the state's traffic chapter caps a first violation at a $175 fine, 30 days in jail, or both, unless otherwise specifically provided. On a highway that has been designated as a highway safety corridor under R.S. 32:267, and signed as one, a violation carries a fine of $750 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both (32:57(I)). For how other states treat the same question, see our guide to lane splitting laws by state.
Information last verified on 2026-10-08. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Louisiana state law: the motorcycle lane rules in La. R.S. 32:191.1, the general lane rule in R.S. 32:79, the definition of motorcycle in R.S. 32:1(51), the passing-on-the-right rule in R.S. 32:74, and the traffic penalties in R.S. 32:57 and 32:267. It does not cover court costs, insurance consequences, parish or city ordinances, or the law of other states.
What La. R.S. 32:191.1 says
Section 32:191.1 sets Louisiana's rules written specifically for motorcycles in traffic lanes. Subsections A through E read:
"A. All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such 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 ban. Its two parts are joined by "or": riding "between lanes of traffic" and riding "between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." Either one is a violation, and neither part depends on whether traffic is moving.
Subsection B is a separate rule against passing a vehicle inside the lane that vehicle occupies. The history note lists the section's origin in Acts 1970, No. 538, with amendments by Acts 1999, No. 631 and Acts 2022, No. 739.
Splitting, filtering, two abreast and shoulders
| Maneuver | What it means | Louisiana rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lane splitting | Riding between lanes of moving traffic | Prohibited by 32:191.1(C): no riding "between lanes of traffic" |
| Lane filtering | Riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic | Not authorized: 32:191.1(C) also bars riding "between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles" and has no stopped-traffic exception |
| Passing in the same lane | Passing a vehicle inside the lane it occupies | Prohibited by 32:191.1(B) |
| Riding two abreast | Two motorcycles side by side in one lane | Allowed; more than two abreast is prohibited by 32:191.1(D) |
| Shoulder passing | Leaving the pavement to get past traffic on the right | Prohibited by R.S. 32:74(B): passing on the right is never made "by driving off the pavement or main traveled portion of the highway"; the shoulder carve-out in 32:74(C) covers only bicycles |
The exemption in Subsection E is narrow. It lifts the same-lane passing rule and the between-lanes ban only for "police officers in the performance of their official duties." Section 32:191.1 contains no exception for stopped traffic, congestion, or a rider's speed, and no exception for shoulder riding.
Louisiana's general lane rule applies to every vehicle, motorcycles included. R.S. 32:79(1) provides that on a roadway divided into lanes, "A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety."
Two abreast and the right to a full lane
Two motorcycles may share a lane in Louisiana. Subsection D bars only riding "more than two abreast in a single lane," so a pair side by side is lawful and a row of three is not.
Subsection A protects the motorcycle's space: no motor vehicle may be driven "in such manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of a lane." By its last sentence, that protection does not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.
Which vehicles count as motorcycles
R.S. 32:1(51) defines the term for the chapter:
"(51) 'Motorcycle' means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor, a motorized bicycle, and an electric-assisted bicycle."
Three-wheeled machines that meet that description are covered by 32:191.1. A motorized bicycle and an electric-assisted bicycle are not motorcycles under this definition; for the rules on smaller powered vehicles, see our guide to Louisiana e-scooter laws.
Penalty for lane splitting in Louisiana
Section 32:191.1 does not state a fine. Subsection F applies the chapter's penalties instead:
"F. Penalties imposed by this Chapter shall be applicable to any driver or operator of a vehicle, as defined in R.S. 32:1, who is found guilty of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of the provisions of this Chapter, including this Section, or any regulation of the department, secretary, and commissioner made pursuant thereto."
The chapter's general penalty is in R.S. 32:57(A)(1):
"A.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and Subsections H and I of this Section, the first violation of the provisions of this Chapter or any regulation of the department, secretary, and commissioner made pursuant thereto shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred seventy-five dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, unless otherwise specifically provided. A subsequent violation shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both."
| Violation | Fine | Maximum jail term | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First violation | Up to $175 | 30 days (or both) | R.S. 32:57(A)(1) |
| Subsequent violation | Up to $500 | 90 days (or both) | R.S. 32:57(A)(1) |
| Violation on a designated highway safety corridor | Minimum $750, maximum $1,000 | 30 days (or both) | R.S. 32:57(I), 32:267(E) |
The first two rows are ceilings, not set amounts, and they apply "unless otherwise specifically provided." A higher penalty applies on a highway safety corridor. Where the Department of Transportation and Development has designated a portion of a highway as a highway safety corridor under R.S. 32:267, with signs at each end, any violation of the chapter on that portion, including 32:191.1, carries a fine of not less than $750 and not more than $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both (32:57(I)). The amount a court actually imposes, and any court costs added to it, are not stated in these sections.
If a lane maneuver ends in a crash
A citation under 32:191.1 is one fact in an injury or property-damage claim; it does not decide fault by itself. If a person was injured in the crash, the written promise to appear and the plead-and-pay-by-mail procedures in R.S. 32:57(C) and (D) do not apply (32:57(F)). For how fault, insurance and filing deadlines work after a motorcycle crash, see our guide to Louisiana motorcycle accident laws, and for crashes in general, Louisiana car accident laws.
Related pages
- Lane splitting laws by state
- Louisiana motorcycle accident laws
- Louisiana car accident laws
- Louisiana e-scooter laws
This article provides general legal information about Louisiana law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Louisiana or the court named on the citation.
Last updated: 2026-10-08.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in Louisiana?
No. La. R.S. 32:191.1(C) provides that no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
Is lane filtering legal in Louisiana?
No. Section 32:191.1(C) bars riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and has no exception for stopped or slow traffic. The only exemption, in 32:191.1(E), covers police officers in the performance of their official duties.
What is the penalty for lane splitting in Louisiana?
Section 32:191.1 sets no amount of its own. The general penalty for Chapter 1 of Title 32 in R.S. 32:57(A)(1) is a fine of not more than $175, imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both for a first violation, and up to $500, 90 days, or both for a subsequent violation, unless otherwise specifically provided. On a highway designated and signed as a highway safety corridor under R.S. 32:267, the fine is $750 to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both, under 32:57(I).
Can two motorcycles ride side by side in Louisiana?
Yes. La. R.S. 32:191.1(D) says motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane, so two abreast is allowed and three or more is not.
Can a motorcycle pass a car in the same lane in Louisiana?
No. La. R.S. 32:191.1(B) says the operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. Police officers performing official duties are exempt under 32:191.1(E).
Can a motorcycle ride on the shoulder to get around traffic in Louisiana?
No. R.S. 32:74(B) allows passing on the right only under conditions permitting it in safety, and in no event by driving off the pavement or main traveled portion of the highway. The shoulder exception in 32:74(C) applies only to bicycles.
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.
Louisiana Revised Statutes
§ 32:191.1Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for trafficIn force
A. All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and no motor vehicle shall be driven in such 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. F. Penalties imposed by this Chapter shall be applicable to any driver or operator of a vehicle, as defined in R.S. 32:1, who is found guilty of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a violation of the provisions of this Chapter, including this Section, or any regulation of the department, secretary, and commissioner made pursuant thereto.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
§ 32:1DefinitionsIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
When used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: (1) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means a vehicle of a fire department, a vehicle of the department's weights and standards police force, a police vehicle, a private vehicle, a privately owned vehicle belonging to members of an organized volunteer fire department or fire district when so designated or authorized by the fire chief of that fire department or fire district, an industrial-owned vehicle assigned to members of a fire department or fire district when so designated or authorized by the fire chief of that fire department or fire district, a vehicle parked or stopped by elevator repair or construction personnel while responding to an elevator emergency, such as ambulances and emergency medical response vehicles certified by the Louisiana Department of Health that are operated by certified ambulance services, vehicles used for coroner investigations as designated by the parish coroner, and emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the secretary of the Department of Transportation and…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.la.gov
Also relied on in: Is Jaywalking Illegal in Louisiana? Crossing Rules and Fines (2026)
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Sources and References
- La. R.S. 32:191.1, Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 32:79, Driving on roadways laned for traffic(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 32:1, Definitions (motorcycle)(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 32:57, Penalties(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 32:74, When passing on the right is permitted(legis.la.gov).gov
- La. R.S. 32:267, Highway safety corridor(legis.la.gov).gov