Is Lane Splitting Legal in Pennsylvania? Rules and Penalties (2026)

Lane splitting and lane filtering are illegal in Pennsylvania. Under 75 Pa.C.S. 3523(c), "No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles," and the only exception, in 3523(f), is for police officers performing their official duties. Section 3523 sets no penalty of its own, so the general rule in 75 Pa.C.S. 6502(a) applies by its terms: a summary offense with a fine of $25. For how other states handle it, 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 Pennsylvania state law in Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (the Vehicle Code): the motorcycle lane rules in 3523, the definitions in 102, the passing and lane rules in 3303, 3304 and 3309, the safe-speed rule in 3361, careless and reckless driving in 3714 and 3736, the work-zone fine doubling in 3326, the suspensions in 1532, the points schedule in 1535 and the general penalty in 6502. It does not cover municipal ordinances, court costs, insurance consequences, fault in a crash, or the law of other states.

What 75 Pa.C.S. 3523 says

Section 3523, "Operating motorcycles on roadways laned for traffic," is Pennsylvania's whole rulebook for where a motorcycle may ride within a lane. 75 Pa.C.S. 3523 reads:

"(a) Right to use of lane.-- 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. (b) Overtaking and passing.-- The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken. (c) Operation between lanes or vehicles.-- No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles. (d) Limitation on operating abreast.-- Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane. (e) Limited access highways.-- No motorized pedalcycle shall be operated on any limited access highway. (f) Exception for police officers.-- Subsections (b) and (c) do not apply to police officers in the performance of their official duties."

What that means for riders:

• Lane splitting is prohibited. Riding between lanes of moving traffic is operating "between lanes of traffic" under 3523(c).
• Lane filtering is prohibited. Riding between rows of cars stopped at a light is operating "between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles." Section 3523 has no exception for stopped or slow traffic.
• No passing inside a car's lane. Subsection (b) bars a motorcycle from overtaking and passing in the same lane as the vehicle being overtaken.
• Two abreast is the limit. Subsection (d) allows no more than two motorcycles side by side in a single lane.
• Cars must leave motorcycles the full lane. Subsection (a) bars driving a motor vehicle so as to deprive a motorcycle of the full use of a lane.

The police exception in 3523(f) covers only subsections (b) and (c). The definition of "motorcycle" in 75 Pa.C.S. 102 includes a vehicle "designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground," and "The term includes an autocycle," so the between-lanes ban reaches three-wheelers and autocycles too.

The official consolidated text of Chapter 35, which contains 3523, shows no amendment by any 2025 or 2026 act.

The lane-change and passing rules

Three general rules in Chapter 33 apply to every vehicle, including motorcycles.

Passing on the left. Under 75 Pa.C.S. 3303(a)(1), "The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left of the other vehicle at a safe distance and shall stay to the left of the other vehicle until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle."

Staying in a lane. On a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes, 75 Pa.C.S. 3309(1) provides that "A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until the driver has first ascertained that the movement can be made with safety." Under 3309(4), official traffic-control devices may prohibit lane changes on a section of roadway, and drivers "shall obey the directions of every such device."

Passing on the right. 75 Pa.C.S. 3304 limits passing on the right to two situations, each with its own condition:

"(a) General rule.-- The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass upon the right of another vehicle only under one of the following conditions: (1) When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn, except that such movement shall not be made by driving off the berm or shoulder of the highway. (2) Upon a roadway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width for two or more lines of vehicles moving lawfully in the direction being traveled by the overtaken vehicle, except that such movement shall not be made by driving off the roadway. (b) Limitation.-- No passing movement under this section shall be made unless the movement can be made in safety."

Can you ride on the shoulder?

Pennsylvania's definition of the roadway answers the first half of the question. Under 75 Pa.C.S. 102, the roadway is "That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder even though such sidewalk, berm or shoulder is used by pedalcycles." A laned roadway is "A roadway which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic."

Section 3304 then closes off the shoulder as a passing lane. When passing a vehicle that is turning left, the move "shall not be made by driving off the berm or shoulder of the highway" (3304(a)(1)). When passing on a multi-lane roadway, it "shall not be made by driving off the roadway" (3304(a)(2)), and the roadway excludes the berm and shoulder. Riding the shoulder to get past traffic is therefore not a permitted way to pass on the right.

What happens if you are caught

The fine for a 3523 violation

Section 3523 contains no penalty subsection. The Vehicle Code's general penalty, 75 Pa.C.S. 6502(a), then applies by its terms:

"(a) Violations of this title.-- It is a summary offense for any person to violate any of the provisions of this title unless the violation is by this title or other statute of this Commonwealth declared to be a misdemeanor or felony. Every person convicted of a summary offense for a violation of any of the provisions of this title for which another penalty is not provided shall be sentenced to pay a fine of $25."

Subsection (c) adds that Title 18, the Crimes Code, "insofar as it relates to fines and imprisonment for convictions of summary offenses, is not applicable to this title." The $25 figure is the statutory fine only; the amount due on a particular citation, including any costs the court adds, comes from the court named on it.

The same $25 default applies to violations of 3303, 3304, 3309 and 3361, none of which states its own penalty.

Points on your license

A 3523 conviction carries no points. Section 3523 does not appear on the points schedule in 75 Pa.C.S. 1535. The related charges do:

Under 1535(b), if a 3361 or 3714 conviction comes with a conviction for another offense committed at the same time and place, no points are assigned for the 3361 or 3714 conviction when points are assigned for the other offense.

Points are assessed to a driver "who is convicted" of a listed offense, "as of the date of violation." Under 1535(c), "The department shall assign points to the record of any person within six months from the date of a conviction," and "Any points assigned after such six-month period shall be null and void." The schedule's exception in 1535(d) covers only a person "operating a pedalcycle or an animal drawn vehicle," not motorcycles.

Work zones and highway safety corridors

Under 75 Pa.C.S. 3326(c), fines are "double the usual amount" for listed violations "when committed in an active work zone manned by workers acting in their official capacity or on a highway safety corridor designated under section 6105.1." The list includes 3303, 3304, 3305, 3307, 3309, 3310, 3361, 3714 and 3736. Section 3523 is not on the list. Under 3326(c.1), the doubling applies "only if the active work zone or highway safety corridor where the violation occurred is posted with an official sign in accordance with this section."

Under 1535(e), a 3361 conviction for a violation in an active work zone also brings a 15-day suspension of the operating privilege when PennDOT has received a police crash report.

Speed, careless driving and reckless driving

Each of these is a separate charge with its own elements; whether a particular ride meets them depends on the facts.

Chapters 33 and 37 of the Vehicle Code contain no offense named aggressive driving.

Federal law and lane splitting

We found no federal statute or regulation that addresses lane splitting; the rules come from state traffic law.

If a crash happens

How a lane violation bears on fault and an injury claim is covered in our guide to Pennsylvania motorcycle accident laws. For the crash rules that apply to every driver, see Pennsylvania car accident laws.

Related pages

• Lane splitting laws by state
• Pennsylvania motorcycle accident laws
• Pennsylvania car accident laws

This article provides general legal information about Pennsylvania law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Pennsylvania or the court named on your citation.

Last updated: 2026-10-09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lane splitting legal in Pennsylvania?

No. 75 Pa.C.S. 3523(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 (3523(f)).

Is lane filtering legal in Pennsylvania?

No. Section 3523(c) covers operating a motorcycle between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and has no exception for stopped traffic.

What is the fine for lane splitting in Pennsylvania?

Section 3523 sets no penalty, so 75 Pa.C.S. 6502(a) applies by its terms: a summary offense with a $25 fine. The court named on the citation sets the total amount due, including any costs.

Does lane splitting put points on a Pennsylvania license?

Section 3523 is not on the 75 Pa.C.S. 1535 points schedule. If a ride is charged instead as improper passing under 3304, that offense carries 3 points.

Can motorcycles ride two abreast in Pennsylvania?

Yes, two may share a lane. 75 Pa.C.S. 3523(d) says motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane.

Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Pennsylvania?

Not to pass. 75 Pa.C.S. 3304(a) says passing on the right shall not be made by driving off the berm or shoulder or off the roadway, and section 102 defines the roadway as excluding the berm and shoulder.