I just recently transferred from Wisconsin to CA. Are there any California officers on here that can tell me the legality of lane splitting? So far I have been told it's legal, it's not legal, it's neither legal or illegal and finally, it not illegal, but if an officer wants to pull you over and write you up for illegal lane change, or unsafe passing, he pretty much can do so on a whim. I would like to know before I hit 101 on my bike. Thanks.

that pretty much sums it up. I recently asked my Gramps(retired LA County Sheriff deputy) about it. He said common sense. As long as you are exercising common sense, you will be fine. Obviously no blowing past cars at 100 mph or while doing wheelies. He told me only a bored rookie would even consider writting you a ticket. From my freeway escapades a few weeks ago, ALL the bikes were doing it, and passing cops while doing it. With traffic as shitty as it is in Cali, i wouldn't hesitate to do it....actually, you're nuts if you don't do it. Sit in traffic with cagers? NO Fooking Way.

and a previous thread...
http://www.zx-12r.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22067

welcome to the boards Prod...

first off I'm not a LEO, but I've been following the legality of this here and in other states when I can.

It's "not illegal" to lane share in California.

To my understanding that is the definition of the law. It's way COOL, and it's also way TOOL for officer unfriendly to put the bite on you.


Cool is, yes, you can legally lane share, all you have to do is move inbetween the cars and bingo! your lane sharing!

Tool is, "You were operating your vehicle in an unsafe manner" Hello JUDGEMENT call. Officer unfriendly can write you this ticket while your parked at Burger King and you'd have absolutely ZERO way of proving it. Better hope for a friendly judge on ANY judgement call tickets.

Tool is, "you didnt signal before lane change" so yah... uhmmm you really should but can you hit that stupid little button that quick? AND... IF YOU DO... how much risk are you adding to your daily commute by concentrating on a button instead of traffic and cars and objects in the road and pedestrians and aliens from mars and what the hell else ever is going on...

Cool is... quite honestly... he's got to catch you to write you a ticket. if he's 10 or 15 cars back in 2 or 3 lanes of traffic... please tell me exactly WTF he is gonna do to you, whether you live in Cali where lane sharing is legal or in any state where it isnt.

The downside to that philosophy is that you are willing to run, lots of guys are, no problem, I make no judgement here... just be willing accept you are dead, you are quad paralyzed when you crash, the 7 year old in the soccer mom's mini van is quad paralyzed for life after your bike hits them, or johnny law is now dead, dying, or hurt after only trying to do his job to chase you.

back to the question at hand. we dont LANE SPLIT in california, we LANE SHARE and it's not illegal even for 2 cars, a little known factoid. The rest of the laws that apply to traffic can still affect you! It is almost 99% judgement call on the officer.

My personal suggestion is, Lane share and be a ninja sword through butter 24/7... fuck'em if they cant take a joke. When you get pulled over, if you decide to stop, get a very good attorney and fight the ticket since it's based on discretion and judgement call you already have grounds of dispute. It's quite different from being radar clocked at 65 in a 25 school zone. If you decide not to stop, you should be willing to injure or kill any innocent civilian in your way. I'm not, so I dont.. I know lots of people who dont feel the same way. Up to you...

I know in cali its legal but here in S.C. its not legal.

Bingo. Just do it safely and within reason and you should be cool. Im an EX-LEO, but i dont think the law has changed.

I heard it was gonna get legalized in Tejas, but where would I go to find out???

Jeff, I would check the Texas DMV website first. Good luck with any landline communication if you try that route. If it's anything like NJ you will not receive much help on a landline.

I'll ask a cop the next chance I get...the one that works at the State trooper office rides a 12 :wink:

Does anyone know what the legalities of lane splitting are in australia?? I've heard plently about it from lots of people, and no-one can seem to give me a definite answer. I've also heard that the laws are changing soon. I realise that most of you guys are from the states, sorry if im in the wrong forum? lol

btw, this is my first post here, good to find a website with all the zx12 info i can get.

P.S. Sorry if i hi-jacked the thread

It is 100% legal in California, I once had a Highway Patrol Following me while traveling in between cars in traffic. The Law says you may not travel faster than 45MPH while lane splitting. I wouldnt go faster than 5 -10 mph faster than traffic to avoid the unsafe passing ticket. If I'm not mistaken you must be able to ride within white lines of the lane you are sharing

In Texas it is still considered illegal. Thus the ticket, fail to drive in single lane.

there is no law saying that you cannot...


there is a big discussion on another forum about there. There was a bill that was trying to be pushed through to actually make it legal. From what I read, the Tx regulations read the same as cali.

lastly...if its not deemed Illeagal, then it IS Legal. Its gonna be the officers call, if they catch up to you. I want to start going to the head of the line @ lights....

Its gonna be tricky. I'm used to it in Cali, but have not really done it here in Texas. The drivers out here seem, well, worse then LA/OC drivers..imagin that if you can.