No. M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A requires vehicles to remain entirely within a single marked lane and generally prohibits a motorcycle from passing another motor vehicle within the same lane. As a result, riding between two lanes of same-direction traffic is not permitted in Massachusetts. The law is narrower than many riders assume. However, a lane-splitting citation does not automatically prevent an injured rider from recovering compensation after a crash.
At Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., Boston motorcycle accident attorney Dino Colucci handles serious injury claims for riders across Suffolk, Norfolk, and Middlesex counties. Even if you received a citation for lane splitting, you may still have the right to pursue compensation if another driver’s negligence contributed to the collision.
This guide explains what the statute says, how lane splitting can affect fault after a crash, and the steps you should take to protect your rights after a motorcycle accident.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. is ready to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Call (617) 958-3807 today for a free consultation.
Is Lane Splitting Legal in Massachusetts?
Lane splitting, or riding a motorcycle between two lanes of vehicles traveling in the same direction, is illegal in Massachusetts under M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A. Riders sometimes call the practice “stripe riding” or “white lining,” and it most often occurs when traffic slows on highways such as I-93 or the Southeast Expressway during rush hour.
Section 4A requires every vehicle to remain entirely within a single marked lane and prohibits a motorcycle from passing another motor vehicle within the same lane, except another motorcycle. A lane-splitting violation does not automatically constitute negligent operation, but police can also allege negligent operation under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24(2)(a) when the rider’s conduct, speed, traffic conditions, visibility, or the risk created for others supports that separate criminal charge.
Massachusetts lawmakers have continued to consider limited lane-splitting proposals. During the 2025–2026 legislative session, H.3620 proposed allowing motorcycles to travel between lanes or use certain breakdown or access lanes when surrounding traffic was moving at 10 miles per hour or less, subject to a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit. The proposal was referred to a study order on February 25, 2026, and did not amend M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A.
Key Takeaway: Lane splitting remains illegal in Massachusetts because M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A requires vehicles to stay within a single marked lane, and no legislation has changed that rule.
What Does M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A Actually Say About Lane Usage?
Although M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A is brief, its wording controls how motorcycles must operate on roads divided into marked lanes. The statute provides:
“When any way has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety. The operators of motorcycles shall not ride abreast of more than one other motorcycle, shall ride single file when passing, and shall not pass any other motor vehicle within the same lane, except another motorcycle.”
Section 4A contains two key rules. First, every driver must keep the vehicle entirely within a single lane and change lanes only after determining the movement can be made safely. Second, motorcycles cannot pass another motor vehicle within the same lane, although one motorcycle can pass another motorcycle in that lane. The statute does not expressly grant motorcyclists a “right to the whole lane,” but it does prohibit riders from using the unused portion of a vehicle’s lane to pass it.
What Counts as an Illegal Lane Movement?
A rider may change lanes after determining that the movement can be made safely. The statute does not limit the number of lawful lane changes during a trip. What the law prohibits is traveling or passing between lanes of traffic. Riding along the painted line past stopped vehicles, threading between two lines of slow-moving traffic, or passing a car within the same lane violates § 4A. The statute contains no exception for slow or stopped traffic.
Shoulder and breakdown-lane travel are governed separately under M.G.L. c. 89, § 4B and applicable roadway signs. Travel in those lanes is prohibited unless posted signs authorize it during specified times. The specific citation depends on the roadway, the posted restrictions, and the rider’s conduct.
What Happens If You’re Cited for Lane Splitting in Massachusetts?
A lane-splitting citation is issued as a civil motor vehicle infraction unless officers also allege a separate criminal offense. Depending on the circumstances, it can result in fines and fees, affect your driving record and insurance premiums, and become evidence in a later personal injury claim.
Fines and Court Fees
A violation of M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A is handled as a civil motor vehicle infraction. The applicable assessment appears on the citation, and Chapter 89 imposes an additional $5 surcharge. A driver who contests the citation must file a hearing request within 20 days and pay a $25 filing fee. The fee is refunded if the driver is found not responsible for every civil violation listed on the citation.
A lane-splitting citation does not prevent police from filing additional charges. When the rider’s conduct, speed, traffic conditions, visibility, or the risk created for others supports a separate offense, police can also charge negligent operation under M.G.L. c. 90, § 24(2)(a), a criminal offense that carries potential license consequences.
Insurance Surcharge Points (Massachusetts Merit Rating Board)
The Merit Rating Board reports surchargeable traffic violations and at-fault accidents to insurers. Some insurers use the Safe Driver Insurance Plan (SDIP), while others use approved merit-rating plans. Under the SDIP, a minor traffic-law violation carries two surcharge points. If a traffic violation and an at-fault accident arise from the same incident, the SDIP applies the higher point value rather than adding both point values.
Can Lane Splitting Affect Fault in a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident?
Yes. Massachusetts follows the modified comparative negligence rule under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85. An injured rider can recover damages if the rider’s share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants. Recovery is barred only when the rider is more than 50 percent at fault.
A lane-splitting violation does not automatically determine liability. Insurance companies often argue that riding between lanes contributed to the collision. At the same time, riders frequently contend that the crash resulted from another driver’s conduct, such as an unsafe lane change, opening a vehicle door into traffic, or drifting across lane markings. The factfinder must evaluate the evidence and allocate fault between the parties.
A traffic law violation can serve as evidence of negligence when it is related to the collision, but it does not conclusively establish fault. Evidence such as vehicle positions, closing speed, signal use, sight lines, and the point of impact often plays a larger role in determining who caused the crash.
How Comparative Negligence Reduces Compensation
If a jury assigns you a share of fault below the legal threshold, your compensation is reduced by that percentage. For example, if your damages total $200,000 and you are found 30 percent at fault, you recover $140,000. If your share of fault reaches 55 percent, you recover nothing.
Key Takeaway: A lane-splitting violation does not automatically prevent an injured rider from recovering compensation. Under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85, recovery depends on each party’s share of fault, and compensation is barred only when the rider is more than 50 percent responsible for the crash.
Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Boston, Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C.
Dino M. Colucci, Esq.
Dino M. Colucci has represented injured clients in Massachusetts since 1988 and serves as the founding partner and lead trial counsel at Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. His practice includes motorcycle accidents, trucking collisions, medical malpractice, product liability, and other catastrophic injury claims. He is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School and has earned an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, recognition in The Best Lawyers in America, and selection to Massachusetts Super Lawyers.
Dino is also a certified mediator through Harvard Law School’s Program on Mediation and has taught trial evidence and technique as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University Law School. His decades of courtroom experience help clients pursue compensation in complex injury cases involving disputed liability and significant damages.
Darin Colucci, Esq.
As managing partner of Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., Darin Colucci focuses his practice on personal injury and civil litigation, including motorcycle accidents, motor vehicle collisions, product liability, premises liability, and wrongful death claims. A cum laude graduate of Suffolk University Law School, he served on the Suffolk University Law Review and has built a reputation for handling complex litigation and high-value settlements.
Darin has been recognized by Massachusetts Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Lawyers of Distinction, and the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys. His combination of trial advocacy and negotiation experience allows him to represent injured riders in challenging liability disputes and serious injury claims.
Matthew Marcus, Esq.
Matthew J. Marcus is a partner at Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. whose practice concentrates on estate planning, elder law, disability law, and guardianship matters. He holds a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and an LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law, providing clients with extensive knowledge of long-term planning and asset protection.
Matthew is a longtime Massachusetts Super Lawyer and has served as a former Hearing Officer for the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers, a former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee, and a former board member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. His experience complements the firm’s broader commitment to helping individuals and families across different legal issues.
Is Lane Filtering Different from Lane Splitting Under Massachusetts Law?
Lane filtering and lane splitting describe different riding maneuvers, but Massachusetts law does not distinguish between them. M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A requires every vehicle to remain entirely within a single marked lane and contains no exception for slow-moving or stopped traffic. As a result, riding between lanes at a red light violates the same statutory requirements as riding between lanes on the highway.
| Maneuver | What It Involves | Massachusetts Status | Statutory Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane splitting | Riding between lanes of moving traffic traveling in the same direction | Illegal | M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A single-lane requirement |
| Lane filtering | Riding between stopped vehicles, often to reach the front at a traffic light | Illegal | § 4A contains no exception for stopped traffic |
| Lane sharing | Two motorcycles riding abreast in one lane | Legal, limited to two motorcycles | § 4A permits one motorcycle to ride abreast of one other motorcycle |
| Passing a motorcycle in the same lane | One motorcycle passing another motorcycle within the same lane | Legal | § 4A expressly permits passing another motorcycle within the same lane |
Key Takeaway: Massachusetts law treats lane splitting and lane filtering the same because M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A requires vehicles to remain within a single marked lane and provides no exception for stopped or slow-moving traffic.
What Should You Do After a Massachusetts Motorcycle Crash?
The steps you take immediately after a motorcycle crash can significantly affect both your health and your injury claim. Preserve evidence as early as possible by taking the following steps:
- Report the crash to police: Ask officers to respond to the scene. The police report, witness information, and any citation issued to the other driver become important evidence in determining fault.
- Get medical care the same day: Prompt medical treatment creates a record linking your injuries to the crash. Delays or gaps in treatment make that connection more difficult to prove.
- Photograph the scene if you are physically able: Capture lane markings, vehicle positions, skid marks, debris, damage to the motorcycle and other vehicles, sight lines, and traffic signals before anything is moved.
- Identify nearby cameras: Check for traffic cameras, business security cameras, dash cameras, and helmet cameras because video footage is often overwritten after a short retention period.
- Preserve damaged property: Keep the motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and other damaged items in their post-crash condition so they remain available for inspection.
- Write down what you remember: Record the time, weather, traffic conditions, what the other driver said, and where each vehicle was positioned before the collision.
- Speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement: Legal advice helps you understand how your statements can affect your claim.
Most Massachusetts personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years, although certain circumstances can change that deadline. Evidence often disappears much sooner as video is overwritten, vehicles are repaired, and witnesses’ memories fade.
Key Takeaway: Acting quickly after a motorcycle crash helps preserve the evidence needed to establish fault and protect your claim. Reporting the crash, obtaining prompt medical care, documenting the scene, and speaking with an attorney before giving a recorded statement are among the most important steps.
Speak with a Boston Motorcycle Accident Attorney
After a motorcycle accident, questions about fault often arise, especially if you received a lane-splitting citation. Riders are frequently told by insurance adjusters that the ticket settles the question of fault. It does not, and treating it that way can reduce or eliminate the compensation available under Massachusetts law.
At Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C., our team of Boston motorcycle accident lawyers handles motorcycle and motor vehicle injury litigation, with cases in courts throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, and Middlesex counties.
Call Colucci, Colucci & Marcus, P.C. at (617) 958-3807 for a free consultation. Our office at 31 Milk St, 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109 serves injured riders across Boston, Massachusetts, and the surrounding counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lane splitting a moving violation in Massachusetts?
Yes. It is typically charged as a marked-lanes violation under M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A, which is a civil motor vehicle infraction and a surchargeable moving violation. At higher speeds, an officer may add a criminal negligent operation charge.
Can I get a ticket for lane splitting even without a crash?
Yes. A crash or injury is not required for a rider to be cited. However, briefly crossing a lane line during a lawful lane change is not the same as traveling between lanes; § 4A permits a driver to leave a lane after first determining that the movement can be made safely.
What is the fine for illegal lane use under c. 89, § 4A?
The assessment is set under the applicable civil motor vehicle violation schedule. Chapter 89 also imposes a $5 surcharge, and additional court fees apply if you contest the citation.
Can a lane-splitting citation be used against me in a lawsuit?
It can be raised as evidence of negligence, but it does not decide the case. Under M.G.L. c. 231, § 85, a jury still allocates fault between the rider and the driver based on the facts of the collision.
Is shoulder riding treated the same as lane splitting in Massachusetts?
They are separate violations. Shoulder and breakdown-lane travel is governed by its own rules and is prohibited on most roadways except where signs authorize it during posted hours.
