HB 776: Regards motorcycle lane filtering and lane splitting
To amend sections 4511.01, 4511.041, and 4511.25 and to enact section 4511.551 of the Revised Code to establish traffic laws related to lane filtering and lane splitting by certain motorcycle operators.
| Mar. 25, 2026 | Referred to committee: Transportation |
| Mar. 24, 2026 | Introduced |
As Introduced
Regular Session
H. B. No. 776
2025-2026
Representative Lorenz
To amend sections 4511.01, 4511.041, and 4511.25 and to enact section 4511.551 of the Revised Code to establish traffic laws related to lane filtering and lane splitting by certain motorcycle operators.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
That sections 4511.01, 4511.041, and 4511.25 be amended and section 4511.551 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
As used in this chapter and in Chapter 4513. of the Revised Code:
"Vehicle" means every device, including a bicycle, motorized bicycle, and an electric bicycle, in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a highway. "Vehicle" does not include any motorized wheelchair, any electric personal assistive mobility device, any low-speed micromobility device, any personal delivery device as defined in section 4511.513 of the Revised Code, any device that is moved by power collected from overhead electric trolley wires or that is used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or any device that is moved by human power.
"Motor vehicle" means every vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, except motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power shovels, power cranes, and other equipment used in construction work and not designed for or employed in general highway transportation, hole-digging machinery, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, and trailers designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a street or highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less.
"Motorcycle" means every motor vehicle, other than a tractor, having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles known as "motor-driven cycle," "motor scooter," "autocycle," "cab-enclosed motorcycle," or "motorcycle" without regard to weight or brake horsepower.
"Wildlife officer" means an officer designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the Revised Code.
"In-road warning light" means a special type of highway traffic signal that is installed in the roadway surface to warn road users that they are approaching a condition on or adjacent to the roadway that might not be readily apparent and might require the road users to reduce speed or come to a complete stop.
Sections 4511.12, 4511.13, 4511.131, 4511.132, 4511.14, 4511.202, 4511.21, 4511.211, 4511.22, 4511.23, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.40, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.432, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.551, 4511.57, 4511.58, 4511.59, 4511.60, 4511.61, 4511.62, 4511.66, 4511.68, 4511.681, and 4511.69 of the Revised Code do not apply to the driver of an emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle if the emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle is responding to an emergency call, is equipped with and displaying at least one flashing, rotating, or oscillating light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of the vehicle and if the driver of the vehicle is giving an audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell. This section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.
(A) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle or trackless trolley shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:
When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or when making a left turn under the rules governing such movements;
When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided, any person so doing shall yield the right of way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;
When driving upon a roadway divided into three or more marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon;
When driving upon a roadway designated and posted with signs for one-way traffic;
When otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic control device;
When operated in accordance with section 4511.551 of the Revised Code.
(B) (1) Upon all roadways any vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding at less than the prevailing and lawful speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, and far enough to the right to allow passing by faster vehicles if such passing is safe and reasonable, except under any of the following circumstances:
When overtaking and passing another vehicle or trackless trolley proceeding in the same direction;
When preparing for a left turn;
When the driver must necessarily drive in a lane other than the right-hand lane to continue on the driver's intended route;
When operated in accordance with section 4511.551 of the Revised Code.
(2) Nothing in division (B) (1) of this section requires a driver of a slower vehicle to compromise the driver's safety to allow overtaking by a faster vehicle.
(C) Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle or trackless trolley shall be driven to the left of the center line of the roadway, except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain lanes to the left of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use the lanes, or except as permitted under division (A) (2) of this section.
This division shall not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the center line in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.
(D) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under section 4511.991 of the Revised Code.
As used in this section:
"Lane filter" means the operation of a motorcycle between two marked lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction when one of the following applies:
The other vehicles are stopped.
The other vehicles are traveling at a speed of fifteen miles per hour or less.
"Lane split" means the operation of a motorcycle between two marked lanes of traffic traveling in the same direction at a speed greater than fifteen miles per hour.
"Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator, designed to travel on not more than two wheels in contact with the ground, and having no occupant compartment top or occupant compartment top that can be installed or removed by the user.
No person operating a motorcycle shall lane filter unless all of the following apply:
The roadway has two or more lanes of travel in the same direction.
The posted speed limit is forty-five miles per hour or less.
The speed of the motorcycle is not more than ten miles per hour above the speed of the surrounding traffic.
No person operating a motorcycle shall lane filter along the curb or shoulder of a roadway.
No person shall purposely impede or interfere with the operator of a motorcycle who is lawfully lane filtering.
No person operating a motorcycle shall lane split.
Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
Unless a mens rea is otherwise specified in this section, an offense established under this section is a strict liability offense and section 2901.20 of the Revised Code does not apply. The designation of that offense as a strict liability offense shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
That existing sections 4511.01, 4511.041, and 4511.25 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
The Director of Public Safety shall conduct a statewide public education campaign to alert other drivers, motorcycle riders, and the public of the authorization to lane filter granted under section 4511.551 of the Revised Code. As part of that campaign, the Director shall include material on how a motorcycle rider may safely lane filter, the prohibition against lane splitting, and the prohibition against impeding or interfering with a motorcycle rider who is lawfully lane filtering. The Director shall provide both printed and digital communications as part of the campaign.
Ohio Legislative Service Commission
As Introduced by Representative Lorenz