Missouri
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Missouri? (2026 Law)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited October 10, 2026). · 18 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Missouri law does not expressly address lane splitting or lane filtering: no statute authorizes a motorcycle to ride between lanes or rows of vehicles, and none names the practice to forbid it. The general rules in Chapter 304 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri apply instead. On a roadway with three or more marked lanes, RSMo 304.015.5(1) requires a vehicle to be driven "as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane," and 304.016.2 bars passing on the right by driving off the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway. A violation of 304.016 is a class C misdemeanor, which carries a fine of up to $750 under RSMo 558.002 and up to 15 days in jail under RSMo 558.011. For how other states compare, 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 Missouri state law in the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo): the lane and passing rules in 304.015 and 304.016, the definitions in 304.001 and 301.010, the careful-driving and stunt-driving provisions in 304.012 and 304.145, the following-distance and speeding rules in 304.017, 304.010 and 304.009, the work-zone fines in 304.582, the point system and license suspension rules in 302.302 and 302.304, the misdemeanor fine and jail sections 558.002 and 558.011, 2025 House Bill 705 and 2026 Senate Bill 1369. It does not cover city or county traffic ordinances, municipal fine schedules, insurance consequences, or the law of other states.
What Missouri's statutes say about riding between lanes
Missouri has no lane splitting statute. Chapter 304, the state's traffic rules, has no motorcycle operating-rules section, and neither Chapter 304 nor Chapter 307 contains a clause that lets a motorcycle ride between lanes of traffic or between rows of stopped vehicles, or that names the practice to forbid it. Missouri also has no statute giving motorcycles the full use of a lane or limiting how many may ride abreast.
That silence is not permission. RSMo 301.010 defines a motorcycle as "a motor vehicle operated on two wheels," and the general lane and passing rules that apply to every driver apply to riders too. Those are the statutes an officer would look to.
| Maneuver | Missouri rule |
|---|---|
| Lane splitting (riding between lanes of moving traffic) | Not expressly addressed; the safe-distance passing rule in 304.016.1(1) applies on every road, and the single-lane rule in 304.015.5(1) also applies on roadways with three or more marked lanes |
| Lane filtering (riding between rows of stopped vehicles) | Not expressly addressed; same general rules |
| Riding on the shoulder to pass traffic | Barred by 304.016.2: no passing on the right by driving off the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway |
| Riding two motorcycles abreast in one lane | Not addressed by statute |
The single-lane and keep-right rules
Missouri's single-lane rule is in RSMo 304.015, and it applies only on wider roads:
"5. Whenever any roadway has been divided into three or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules in addition to all others consistent herewith shall apply: (1) 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;"
Subsection 6 adds a keep-right rule for any highway with two or more lanes moving the same way: "All vehicles in motion upon a highway having two or more lanes of traffic proceeding in the same direction shall be driven in the right-hand lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or when preparing to make a proper left turn or when otherwise directed by traffic markings, signs or signals."
The penalty in subsection 9 depends on what the violation caused:
"9. Violation of this section shall be deemed a class C misdemeanor unless such violation causes an immediate threat of an accident, in which case such violation shall be deemed a class B misdemeanor, or unless an accident results from such violation, in which case such violation shall be deemed a class A misdemeanor."
Riding on the shoulder
The shoulder answer comes from the passing statute, RSMo 304.016. Subsection 2 reads:
"2. The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: (1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; (2) Upon a city street with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles in each direction; (3) Upon a one-way street; (4) Upon any highway outside of a city with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and clearly marked for four or more lines of traffic. The driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right only under the foregoing conditions when such movement may be made in safety. In no event shall such movement be made by driving off the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway."
Outside a city, then, passing on the right requires pavement clearly marked for four or more lines of traffic, and on any road it can never be done by leaving the paved or main traveled portion. The definitions that govern Chapters 304 and 307 support the same reading for state highways. RSMo 304.001(12) defines the roadway as "that portion of a state highway ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder." Under subsection 5 of 304.016, "Violation of this section shall be deemed a class C misdemeanor."
Subsection 1 of the same section applies on every road, whatever the number of lanes. A driver overtaking a vehicle going the same way "shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle" (304.016.1(1)).
What happens if you are stopped
Unlike states that treat lane violations as civil infractions, Missouri makes them criminal misdemeanors. The maximum fines come from RSMo 558.002:
| Class | Applies to | Maximum fine | Maximum jail term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class C misdemeanor | Any 304.016 passing violation; a 304.015 lane violation | $750 | 15 days |
| Class B misdemeanor | A 304.015 violation that causes an immediate threat of an accident; a 304.012 careful-driving violation | $1,000 | 6 months |
| Class A misdemeanor | A 304.015 violation from which an accident results; a 304.012 violation where an accident is involved | $2,000 | 1 year |
The jail terms come from RSMo 558.011: up to 15 days for a class C misdemeanor, up to 6 months for a class B misdemeanor and up to 1 year for a class A misdemeanor. The statutes set only maximums; the amount due on a particular ticket comes from the court named on it.
Points on a Missouri driving record
Under RSMo 302.302, "Points shall be assessed only after a conviction or forfeiture of collateral." The point table has no line that names lane splitting. Its catch-all line assigns 2 points to "Any moving violation of a state law or county or municipal or federal traffic ordinance or regulation not listed in this section." Subsection 3 adds "two points" when "personal injury or property damage results" from a violation in the listed subdivisions, "if found to be warranted and certified by the reporting court." Speeding in violation of a state law carries 3 points.
Points add up toward losing the license. The Director of Revenue suspends a license at 8 points in 18 months and revokes it at 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 24 months or 24 points in 36 months (RSMo 302.304).
For riders there is an alternative to points. Under 302.302, when a court with jurisdiction orders and verifies it, completing "a motorcycle-rider training course approved by the state highways and transportation commission" for "violations committed while operating a motorcycle" is accepted in lieu of points for violations under the subdivisions the statute lists. The course can replace points only once in any 36-month period and must be completed within 60 days of the conviction (302.302.5).
Work zones
Missouri adds a fine in work zones rather than doubling one. Under RSMo 304.582, a first conviction or guilty plea for a moving violation in a construction or work zone brings an extra fine of $35, and a second or later one brings an extra $75. These "additional fines" do not "enhance the assessment of court costs or the assessment of points." Separately, 304.582.4 makes overtaking or passing another vehicle in a work zone or construction zone, under the conditions that subsection sets, a class C misdemeanor. If that passing violation, or a speeding violation, occurs while a highway worker is in a work zone posted with the required warning signs, the extra fine is $250 for a first offense and $300 for a later one, in place of the $35 or $75 (304.582.2 and .3).
Careful driving, following distance, speed and stunt driving
Each of these is a separate charge with its own elements, and whether a particular ride meets them depends on the facts:
| Rule | What it requires | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Careful driving, RSMo 304.012.1 | Driving "in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person" and exercising "the highest degree of care" | Class B misdemeanor; class A "if an accident is involved" (304.012.3) |
| Following too closely, RSMo 304.017 | Not following another vehicle "more closely than is reasonably safe and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the roadway" | Class C misdemeanor (304.017.2) |
| Speeding, RSMo 304.010 | Staying within the speed limits set by that section or posted | Class C misdemeanor; class B at 20 mph or more over the posted limit (304.010.11). At 5 mph or less over the posted limit it is an infraction with no points (304.009) |
| Stunt driving, RSMo 304.012.2 and 304.145 | Not performing a race, drag race, burnout, donut, wheelie or drifting (304.145.1(13)) | Under 304.012.3: class B misdemeanor, class A if an accident is involved. Stunt driving in connection with a street takeover, or taking part in a street takeover, violates 304.145: class B misdemeanor for a first offense, class A for a second, class E felony for a third or later |
Section 304.012 is also Missouri's speed-for-conditions rule: the rate of speed must not endanger people or property. Both 304.012 and 304.145 were amended or added by 2025 House Bill 495, effective August 28, 2025.
The filtering bill: 2025 House Bill 705
2025 House Bill 705 proposed a new section 304.039 allowing motorcycle filtering. The introduced text reads in part:
"2. An operator of a motorcycle may overtake and pass vehicles in the same lane occupied by a vehicle being overtaken, or between the lanes of two vehicles being overtaken, so long as the operator of the motorcycle is traveling at a rate of speed not more than ten miles per hour over the speed of traffic flow and not more than twenty-five miles per hour. 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing lane splitting."
The bill would have drawn the line between filtering at low speed and lane splitting. It did not become law: its last action was referral to the House Emerging Issues committee on May 15, 2025, and Chapter 304 as published by the Revisor of Statutes contains no section 304.039. A substantially similar 2026 Senate bill, SB 1369, was second read and referred to the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. Similar bills were filed in 2023 (HB 1046) and 2024 (HB 2032).
If a crash happens while splitting or filtering
Because a 304.015 violation becomes a class A misdemeanor when an accident results, a crash can raise the stakes of a lane charge. How a lane or passing violation bears on fault and an injury claim is covered in our guide to Missouri motorcycle accident laws. For crash rules that apply to every driver, see Missouri car accident laws.
Related pages
This article provides general legal information about Missouri law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Missouri or the court named on your citation.
Last updated: 2026-10-09.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting legal in Missouri?
No Missouri statute expressly allows or bans it. The general rules still apply: on roadways with three or more marked lanes, RSMo 304.015.5(1) requires a vehicle to stay as nearly as practicable within a single lane, and 304.016.2 limits passing on the right.
Is lane filtering legal in Missouri?
Missouri has no filtering law. 2025 House Bill 705 would have allowed filtering at not more than 25 mph, but Chapter 304 as published contains no such section. A substantially similar 2026 Senate bill, SB 1369, was referred to a Senate committee.
Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Missouri?
Not to pass. RSMo 304.016.2 says passing on the right may in no event be made by driving off the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway, and 304.001(12) defines a state highway's roadway as exclusive of the berm or shoulder.
What is the penalty for improper passing in Missouri?
A violation of RSMo 304.016 is a class C misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $750 under RSMo 558.002 and up to 15 days in jail under RSMo 558.011. Points are assessed only after a conviction or forfeiture of collateral.
Is lane splitting careless driving in Missouri?
No statute names lane splitting as careless driving; whether a particular ride violates RSMo 304.012 depends on the facts. That section requires driving in a careful and prudent manner with the highest degree of care; a violation is a class B misdemeanor, or class A if an accident is involved.
Can a motorcycle safety course keep points off my Missouri license?
It can. Under RSMo 302.302, when a court orders and verifies it, completing an approved motorcycle-rider training course for a violation committed on a motorcycle is accepted in lieu of points for the violations the statute lists. It can be used this way only once in any 36-month period and must be completed within 60 days of the conviction.
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.
Revised Statutes of Missouri, Title XIX (MOTOR VEHICLES, WATERCRAFT AND AVIATION), Chapter 304
§ 304.016Passing regulations — violations, penalties.In force
1. The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to the limitations and exceptions hereinafter stated: (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; and (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of such driver's vehicle until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
§ 304.015Drive on right of highway — traffic lanes — signs — violations, penalties.In force
1. All vehicles not in motion shall be placed with their right side as near the right-hand side of the highway as practicable, except on streets of municipalities where vehicles are obliged to move in one direction only or parking of motor vehicles is regulated by ordinance. 2. Upon all public roads or highways of sufficient width a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows: (1) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction pursuant to the rules governing such movement; (2) When placing a vehicle in position for and when such vehicle is lawfully making a left turn in compliance with the provisions of sections 304.014 to 304.025 or traffic regulations thereunder or of municipalities; (3) When the right half of a roadway is closed to traffic while under construction or repair; (4) Upon a roadway designated by local ordinance as a one-way street and marked or signed for one-way traffic.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
§ 304.012Motorists to exercise highest degree of care — violation, penalty.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person and shall exercise the highest degree of care. 2. No person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall perform stunt driving, as such term is defined in section 304.145. 3. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor, unless an accident is involved then it shall be a class A misdemeanor.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-08 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
Also relied on in: Truck Accident Laws in Missouri (2026): Deadlines & Liability
§ 304.582Fines for moving violations — fines for violations in work or construction zones — signs required for assessing fines — penalty for passing in work or construction zones — not applicable to court costs.In force
1. Upon the first conviction or plea of guilty by any person for a moving violation as defined in section 302.010, or any offense listed in section 302.302, the court shall assess a fine of thirty-five dollars in addition to any other fine authorized to be imposed by law, if the offense occurred within a construction zone or a work zone. Upon a second or subsequent such conviction or plea of guilty, the court shall assess a fine of seventy-five dollars in addition to any other fine authorized to be imposed by law.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at revisor.mo.gov
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Sources and References
- RSMo 301.010, definitions (motorcycle)(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.015, drive on right of highway, traffic lanes, violations and penalties(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.016, passing regulations, violations and penalties(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.001, definitions for chapters 304 and 307 (roadway)(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 558.002, fines for misdemeanors(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 558.011, sentences of imprisonment(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 302.302, point system(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.582, fines for moving violations in work or construction zones(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.012, careful and prudent driving(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.145, stunt driving(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri House of Representatives, 2025 House Bill 705 (introduced text)(documents.house.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes, Chapter 304 section list(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.017, Distance at which vehicle must follow, penalty(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.010, Definitions, maximum speed limits(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 304.009, Speed limit, violation, penalty(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- RSMo 302.304, License suspension and revocation for accumulated points(revisor.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri Senate, SB 1369 (2026) bill information(www.senate.mo.gov).gov
- Missouri House, HB 705 (2025) bill information(house.mo.gov).gov