Lane-splitting is not legal in Louisiana
. According to Section 191.1B of the Louisiana Highway Regulatory Act, “(t)he operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being overtaken.” If a patrol officer catches you lane splitting, you could be charged with reckless driving, which carries a fine of $200 and the possibility of 90 days in jail.
Lane splitting is a topic of much debate around the country. Some say that it allows traffic to flow better and eases congestion. In California, lane-splitting is legal. Also, Hawaii now allows motorcycles to operate on the shoulder of a road, and Utah allows lane filtering, which is when two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles move in between stopped vehicles to the front of the queue at a red light.
Other states considering legalizing lane splitting include:
Many states are ambiguous when it comes to lane splitting, neither explicitly banning it nor explicitly legalizing it. That can cause confusion as to who is at fault in a lane-splitting-related crash.