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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 25,202
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If lane sharing is not expressly written into law as illegal, it is therefore allowed. As such, it does not have distinct guidelines.
When lane sharing becomes legal, as in governed by law, it will have distinct regulations. For example, the law may state that you may only lane split if traffic is moving 30 mph or less; and you may not exceed 45 mph while lane splitting. If that happens then the Police could issue a citation if traffic is slow and you are splitting going 50 mph; or if traffic is going 55 mph and you are splitting at 60 mph.
I hope that helps.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 115
From: Chicagoland
It is a confusing concept. I am not an attorney, but will try to explain the subtle difference. There is "legal" versus "allowed". For something to be legal, it must be written into law. For something to be illegal, it must be written into law.
If lane sharing is not expressly written into law as illegal, it is therefore allowed. As such, it does not have distinct guidelines.
If lane sharing is not expressly written into law as illegal, it is therefore allowed. As such, it does not have distinct guidelines.
I'm really pretty sure lane splitting isn't LEGAL here in Illinois. However, just because it may not be mentioned in a law prohibiting it doesn't mean it isn't covered by ANOTHER LAW. i.e., let's say there's no lane splitting law for or against, is it "allowed"? Not if your state has laws like IL that talk about "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." And things like improper lane change and improper lane usage can very often be left up to the cops opinion. Beatable in court, sure, possibly. But possibly not. Lol. Not sure I'm making sense right now, it's late, but for now I'm going to sum up with, I agree that something is either legal OR it isn't.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
This is not necessarily true either. I also am not a lawyer and am open to debate or correction but..
I'm really pretty sure lane splitting isn't LEGAL here in Illinois. However, just because it may not be mentioned in a law prohibiting it doesn't mean it isn't covered by ANOTHER LAW. i.e., let's say there's no lane splitting law for or against, is it "allowed"? Not if your state has laws like IL that talk about "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." And things like improper lane change and improper lane usage can very often be left up to the cops opinion. Beatable in court, sure, possibly. But possibly not. Lol. Not sure I'm making sense right now, it's late, but for now I'm going to sum up with, I agree that something is either legal OR it isn't.
I'm really pretty sure lane splitting isn't LEGAL here in Illinois. However, just because it may not be mentioned in a law prohibiting it doesn't mean it isn't covered by ANOTHER LAW. i.e., let's say there's no lane splitting law for or against, is it "allowed"? Not if your state has laws like IL that talk about "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." And things like improper lane change and improper lane usage can very often be left up to the cops opinion. Beatable in court, sure, possibly. But possibly not. Lol. Not sure I'm making sense right now, it's late, but for now I'm going to sum up with, I agree that something is either legal OR it isn't.
I am a licensed Illinois Attorney. If you lane split in Illinois, your gonna get a reckless driving ticket. And you ain't gonna beat it in court. You may get it reduced to a lesser offence with a reduced fine and court costs. But if the cop shows up at court, your likely out some cash.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 25,202
Likes: 30,162
This is not necessarily true either. I also am not a lawyer and am open to debate or correction but..
I'm really pretty sure lane splitting isn't LEGAL here in Illinois. However, just because it may not be mentioned in a law prohibiting it doesn't mean it isn't covered by ANOTHER LAW. i.e., let's say there's no lane splitting law for or against, is it "allowed"? Not if your state has laws like IL that talk about "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." And things like improper lane change and improper lane usage can very often be left up to the cops opinion. Beatable in court, sure, possibly. But possibly not. Lol. Not sure I'm making sense right now, it's late, but for now I'm going to sum up with, I agree that something is either legal OR it isn't.
I'm really pretty sure lane splitting isn't LEGAL here in Illinois. However, just because it may not be mentioned in a law prohibiting it doesn't mean it isn't covered by ANOTHER LAW. i.e., let's say there's no lane splitting law for or against, is it "allowed"? Not if your state has laws like IL that talk about "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." And things like improper lane change and improper lane usage can very often be left up to the cops opinion. Beatable in court, sure, possibly. But possibly not. Lol. Not sure I'm making sense right now, it's late, but for now I'm going to sum up with, I agree that something is either legal OR it isn't.
http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Righ...spx?stateid=13
Check Illinois Vehicle Code, 11-703. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs...050K11-703.htm
In pertinent part, paragraphs (a) and (c) seem to indicate that sharing a lane, splitting a lane, etc. is illegal.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 429
From: E-town, Alberta
I won't do it as we have vigilante drivers around here that would throw a door at you just cause they think if they have to be stuck in traffic so should you. But if someone wants to, fill your boots it dosent affect me one bit
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 572
Likes: 115
From: Chicagoland
I'm a little confused by the above. If it is covered by another law, it is covered. Illinois may call it something different, or just describe it. According to this link at the AMA website, it is illegal.
http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Righ...spx?stateid=13
Check Illinois Vehicle Code, 11-703. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs...050K11-703.htm
In pertinent part, paragraphs (a) and (c) seem to indicate that sharing a lane, splitting a lane, etc. is illegal.
http://americanmotorcyclist.com/Righ...spx?stateid=13
Check Illinois Vehicle Code, 11-703. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs...050K11-703.htm
In pertinent part, paragraphs (a) and (c) seem to indicate that sharing a lane, splitting a lane, etc. is illegal.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 25,202
Likes: 30,162
I'm on my phone (not operating a vehicle) so excuse me for not visiting that link right now and if I make a mess because of it I'm sorry. But basically what I'm saying is you will never have to look far to find a law covering something in the positive or negative. Even if it's not called what you want to call it. The example here would be lane splitting being just covered by reckless driving. I get that the links might be more explicit but remember I was only trying to address the concept of stuff being "allowed" just because a law wasn't specifically created for or against. That's what I'm saying is overwhelmingly likely not the case.
Road Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 791
Likes: 221
From: sf bay area ca
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Understood. What I posted earlier was my feeble attempt to explain how something not being expressly legal is by default, "allowed"; unless of course if it is expressly illegal. So, it is more accurate to say that lane splitting is "allowed" in California but still not yet legal, since there are no laws addressing it - either for or against.
Obviously I'm no lawyer. But everyone knows what we're talking about when we say it's "legal" in California. Hopefully the wording alone doesn't cause issue now or in the future, as I say it that way too.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
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From: Sandy Eggo's North County
By the way~ Even though the CHP "parameters" for lane splitting were removed from the DMV website, that same verbiage is alive and well in the Cal Moto Handbook available today, at any DMV field office.