Is Lane Splitting Legal in Maryland? (2026 Law and Penalty)

No. Lane splitting is illegal in Maryland, and so is lane filtering between stopped cars. Md. Code, Transportation 21-1303(d) provides: "A person may not operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." The District Court of Maryland's preset fine for that violation is $110 and 1 point, or $150 and 3 points if it contributed to an accident. For how other states treat the same maneuvers, 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 Maryland state law: the motorcycle lane rules in Md. Code, Transportation 21-1303, the passing-on-the-right rule in 21-304, the laned-roadway rule in 21-309, the aggressive-driving offense in 21-901.2, the penalty, points and citation provisions in 27-101, 16-402, 16-404, 11-110 and 26-201, and the District Court of Maryland preset fine schedule (DC-CR-090). It does not cover county or city ordinances, insurance consequences, or the law of other states.

Splitting, filtering, shoulders and riding two abreast

Lane splitting usually means riding between lanes while traffic is moving; lane filtering means moving between vehicles while traffic is stopped. Maryland's statute does not use either word, and its ban covers both.

What Maryland's motorcycle lane statute says

Section 21-1303 applies "On any roadway that is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic." It contains four rules that matter here.

Riding between lanes. Subsection (d) reads: "A person may not operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." The wording does not depend on whether the vehicles are moving. A rider who threads between two rows of cars stopped at a light is riding "between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles."

Passing in the same lane. Subsection (c) reads: "The operator of a motorcycle may not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken."

Full use of a lane. Under subsection (b)(2), "Every motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane, and a motor vehicle may not be driven in any manner that deprives any motorcycle of the full use of a lane." Subsection (b)(1) says that rule does not apply to motorcycles operated two abreast in a single lane.

Two abreast. Subsection (e) reads: "Motorcycles may not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane."

The only exemption is in subsection (a)(2): "Subsections (c) and (d) of this section do not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties." There is no exception for stopped traffic, low speeds, or congested highways.

The 2025 aggressive-driving acts (2025 Md. Laws chapters 446 and 447, HB 744 and SB 590) took effect October 1, 2025 and amended the aggressive-driving statute; they did not change the between-lanes ban in 21-1303(d).

Riding on the shoulder or passing on the right

Neither 21-1303 nor 21-304 lets a motorcycle use the shoulder to get around traffic. The passing-on-the-right statute, 21-304, limits that maneuver to the situations it lists, and subsection (c) adds:

"(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and for an operator of a bicycle or motor scooter, a person may not make the movement described under subsections (a) and (b) of this section by driving off the roadway. (2) The driver of a vehicle may make the movement described under subsections (a) and (b) of this section by driving outside the marked lane onto the shoulder to overtake and pass a vehicle that is making or about to make a left turn if the driver can do so without leaving the paved surface."

The left-turn exception is the only shoulder movement the section expressly allows, and it applies to any driver, not to motorcycles in traffic generally.

The general laned-roadway rule, 21-309(b), also applies: "A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and may not be moved from that lane or moved from a shoulder or bikeway into a lane until the driver has determined that it is safe to do so."

Penalties: fine, points and conviction

Section 21-1303 sets no penalty of its own. Under Transportation 27-101(a), a violation of the Maryland Vehicle Law is a misdemeanor unless it is a felony under the Vehicle Law or is punishable by a civil penalty, so riding between lanes is a misdemeanor. Under 27-101(b), "Except as otherwise provided in the Maryland Vehicle Law, a person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of a provision of the Maryland Vehicle Law is subject to a fine not exceeding $500."

A citation for these violations can be paid at a preset amount. The District Court of Maryland's Schedule of Preset Motor Vehicle Fines (DC-CR-090, Rev. 10/2026), which took effect October 1, 2026, lists these amounts:

The schedule states that its preset amounts include a $7.50 Special Funds surcharge. These are the court's prepayable amounts, not statutory maximums.

Paying the fine is a conviction

Maryland defines "conviction" broadly. Under Transportation 11-110(a), a conviction includes "(4) The payment of a fine." Paying the preset amount therefore counts as a conviction under the Vehicle Law.

A person who receives a citation must, within 30 days, do one of the following under 26-201: pay the full preset fine, enter into a payment plan, request a hearing on sentencing and disposition in lieu of a trial, or request a trial date. If the person does not, the statute says the Motor Vehicle Administration "will be notified and may take action to suspend the person's driver's license."

How points add up

Under Transportation 16-402, the Motor Vehicle Administration assesses 1 point for a moving violation not otherwise listed, 3 points for "Any moving violation contributing to an accident," and 5 points for aggressive driving. When several charges arise from the same incident, the Administration "Shall assess points against the individual convicted only on the charge that has the highest point assessment" and may not assess points on the rest.

Under 16-404, for points accumulated within any 2-year period, the Administration sends a warning letter at 3 points, requires a driver improvement program at 5 points, suspends a license at 8 points, and revokes a license at 12 points.

Aggressive driving

Riding between lanes can also count toward the separate offense of aggressive driving. Under Transportation 21-901.2(a), a person is guilty of aggressive driving if the person commits three or more of the listed offenses "at the same time or during a single and continuous period of driving." The list includes "§ 21-1303(c) of this title (Motorcycle overtaking and passing in same lane as another vehicle)" and "§ 21-1303(d) of this title (Motorcycle operating between lanes of traffic or vehicles)." The list also includes 21-304 (passing on right) and 21-309 (driving on laned roadways), so riding between lanes together with two other listed offenses in one continuous period of driving can be charged as aggressive driving. Under 21-901.2(b), "A person convicted of a violation of this section is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000," and 16-402 assigns 5 points.

Work zones

The preset fine schedule lists no separate work-zone amount for 21-1303 or 21-304 violations. Its work-zone row is for exceeding a highway work zone speed limit.

After a crash

Whether a rider was riding between lanes is one fact in a crash claim; it does not settle fault on its own. For how fault, insurance and deadlines work after a motorcycle crash, see our guide to Maryland motorcycle accident laws. For the broader rules on vehicle crashes in the state, see Maryland car accident laws.

Related pages

• Lane splitting laws by state
• Maryland motorcycle accident laws
• Maryland car accident laws
• Virginia lane splitting laws
• Pennsylvania lane splitting laws

This article provides general legal information about Maryland law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Maryland or the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.

Last updated: 2026-10-08.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lane splitting legal in Maryland?

No. Md. Code, Transp. 21-1303(d) says a person may not 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 legal in Maryland?

No. The ban in Transp. 21-1303(d) covers riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and has no exception for stopped traffic, so filtering between cars stopped at a light or in a jam is prohibited.

What is the fine for lane splitting in Maryland?

The District Court preset fine for a 21-1303(d) violation is $110 and 1 point, or $150 and 3 points if it contributed to an accident (DC-CR-090, Rev. 10/2026). The general Vehicle Law maximum is a $500 fine under Transp. 27-101(b).

Does paying a lane splitting ticket go on your record in Maryland?

Paying the fine counts as a conviction under Transp. 11-110(a)(4), and the preset schedule assigns 1 point, or 3 points if the violation contributed to an accident.

Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Maryland?

Not to pass traffic. Transp. 21-304(c)(1) bars passing on the right by driving off the roadway; the only exception, in 21-304(c)(2), lets a driver use the shoulder to pass a vehicle turning left without leaving the paved surface.

Can lane splitting count as aggressive driving in Maryland?

It can, if it is one of three or more listed offenses committed at the same time or during a single and continuous period of driving. Transp. 21-901.2 lists 21-1303(c) and 21-1303(d) among those offenses. Aggressive driving carries a fine of up to $1,000 and 5 points.

Can two motorcycles ride side by side in Maryland?

Yes. Transp. 21-1303(e) prohibits operating motorcycles more than two abreast in a single lane, so two abreast is within the rule.