Is Lane Splitting and Filtering Legal in UT, WA, and ID for Motorcycles

The season of the motorcycle has arrived. The weather has been beautiful, and most motorcycle riders have already done their maiden voyage of 2025 or will go out this weekend.

The increase in motorcycles on the road means a need for increased awareness by car drivers, but it doesn’t mean motorcycles get a free pass to drive crazy.

Motorcycle Lane Splitting: Is It Legal in Idaho, Utah, and Washington?

One of the benefits of riding a motorcycle, other than the joy of the open road, is the ability to fit in places where larger vehicles can’t: like down the highway line between 2 other vehicles.

Lane splitting and filtering are tactics motorcycle drivers use to get through traffic when there is a slowdown or someone won’t move out of the passing lane. It’s great for the motorcycle and maybe a little infuriating to other drivers.

But, is it legal?

What is the Lane Splitting Law for Motorcycles in UT, ID, and WA

When driving any type of vehicle, it’s important to know the rules that apply to that vehicle. Especially if you are traveling between states where the laws might be different.

That is definitely the case with lane splitting and filtering. Lane splitting is done between moving vehicles, and filtering is done between stopped vehicles. Splitting is illegal in Utah, Washington, and Idaho, but the law is different for filtering between stopped traffic. The quick rules for our states with links to the laws are:

• Utah: Legal
• Idaho: Illegal
• Washington: Illegal
• Oregon: Illegal
• Nevada: Illegal

For the states where lane filtering is illegal, Idaho and Washington, the explanation is easy: you can’t do it. But for a state like Utah, it is a little more complicated, because yes, you can, but you can’t all the time.

In Utah, you can only lane filter (never lane splitting) on a motorcycle under the following conditions.

That means you can never lane split on a highway, even if traffic is at a standstill.

READ MORE: Reckless Idaho Accident Caused By Motorcycle Lane Splitting

I remember my first experience with a motorcycle lane splitting. I was driving on the highway in California when a bike zipped between me and the car to my right. It startled me because we were moving slowly (as is often the case on traffic-congested roads in CA), and he came up so quickly I didn’t even see him approaching.

Some people will try to justify lane splitting in a state where it is illegal, but it is still illegal, and if caught, it comes with a fine or reckless or aggressive driving charges.

This guy on YouTube has made the decision that ‘If it fits, it splits’.