No. Lane filtering is not legal in Michigan. The Michigan Vehicle Code prohibits motorcyclists from passing between lines of traffic, and the ban applies whether those vehicles are stopped at a light or creeping through congestion. A 2025 bill would carve out a narrow exception, but it has not passed, so the full prohibition is still in force.
What the Statute Says
MCL 257.660(5) states that a person operating a motorcycle, moped, low-speed vehicle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or electric skateboard cannot pass between lines of traffic.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 257.660 Michigan draws no line between “lane filtering” at low speeds and “lane splitting” at highway speeds. Threading between occupied lanes is prohibited either way.
What the statute does permit is passing in an unoccupied lane: on the left on a two-way street, or on either side on a one-way street.1Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 257.660 A full open lane is fair game. The gap between two occupied lanes is not.
Fines and License Points
A lane-filtering stop is written as a civil infraction. The maximum fine for a standard civil infraction is $100, with court costs added on top.2Michigan Courts. Civil Infraction Fines, Costs, and Assessments Table
The record consequence is heavier than the fine. The Secretary of State categorizes “improper passing” as a three-point violation.3State of Michigan. Chapter 2 – Your Driving Record Points push insurance premiums up and, if they accumulate, lead to a license reexamination.
What Happens If You Crash While Filtering
The ticket is the small problem. The real exposure is what filtering does to a crash claim.
Michigan applies modified comparative negligence under MCL 600.2959. Any damages you recover get reduced by your share of fault, and if you are more than 50 percent responsible, you lose non-economic damages like pain and suffering entirely. A rider who was passing between lanes in violation of the statute at the moment of impact is going to absorb a meaningful share of fault, even if the other driver also did something wrong. A clear statutory violation gives the other side an easy fault argument.
Insurance makes it worse. Motorcycles are not classified as “motor vehicles” under Michigan’s No-Fault Act, so riders do not receive the automatic personal injury protection benefits that car drivers get. An injured motorcyclist often has to pursue a fault-based claim against the other driver to cover medical bills and lost wages. Being caught breaking a traffic law at the moment of the crash makes that claim much harder to win.
Senate Bill 365 and the Proposed Exception
Senate Bill 365, introduced on June 5, 2025, would allow two-wheeled motorcycles to filter under narrow conditions.4LegiScan. Michigan SB0365 2025-2026 103rd Legislature Under the bill:
- Surrounding traffic must be stopped or moving at 10 mph or less.
- The motorcycle may not exceed 15 mph while filtering.
- The road must have at least two adjacent lanes going the same direction.
- The rider must first determine the movement can be made safely.
The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and, as of early 2026, remains there with no further action.4LegiScan. Michigan SB0365 2025-2026 103rd Legislature Bills that stall in committee often die at the end of the session. Until SB 365 passes and is signed, the full ban under MCL 257.660 applies to every rider on every Michigan road.