Montana lane filtering law
Lane filtering legal since October 1, 2021
Montana allows lane filtering on two-wheeled motorcycles. A rider may pass vehicles that are stopped or moving at 10 mph or less, at up to 20 mph, where the lanes are wide enough. Splitting through faster traffic is not allowed.
The rules a rider must follow
Every condition below comes from the statute. If one isn’t met, the normal lane rules apply and riding between lanes is not allowed.
- Two-wheeled motorcycles only § 61-8-392(1)
- Lanes must be wide enough to pass safely § 61-8-392(1)(a)
- Do not exceed 20 mph while overtaking the stopped or slow-moving vehicle § 61-8-392(1)(b)
- Conditions must permit continued reasonable and prudent operation § 61-8-392(1)(c)
- Only pass vehicles that are stopped or going 10 mph or less, traveling in the same direction and in the same lane § 61-8-392(2)
“An operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle may engage in lane filtering when: (a) the operator of a two-wheeled motorcycle is on a road with lanes wide enough to pass safely”
SB 9 does not set its own effective date, so it took effect on October 1, 2021 under Montana’s default effective-date law (MCA 1-2-201).
Ask your legislators
If you ride in Montana, the law already allows this. Riders in other states can point their legislators to it as a working example. Find yours on the Montana Legislature legislator lookup or at mystatereps.com.