Minnesota became the latest state to legalize motorcycle lane filtering when Governor Tim Walz signed bill HF 5247 into law on May 24, 2024.
The Gopher State joins California, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and Colorado as the only states to adopt such legislation. That doesn’t mean the laws are identical, though. If U.S. lane filtering regulations share anything, it’s their different conditions. Minnesota’s bill follows that pattern.
Section 61 of Minnesota Statutes 2022 previously prohibited motorcyclists from riding alongside or passing “another vehicle within the same traffic lane” or “between lanes of moving or stationary vehicles.” The recently adopted amendment now enables riders to overtake a vehicle in the same lane, as long as the motorcycle doesn’t exceed 25 mph. Filtering is also restricted to 15 mph over the speed of traffic.
What’s more, Minnesota takes proactive steps to curb the potential backlash against bikers (from other motorists), as the law forbids drivers from obstructing the motorcycle’s “full use of a traffic lane.” This stipulation not only gives Minnesotan riders peace of mind but also legal recourse, should a motorist attempt to block their path (by opening the driver’s door or veering into them).
Unfortunately, Minnesota’s lane filtering law doesn’t take effect until July 1, 2025. On the bright side, with more than a year before enactment, lawmakers and authorities can educate the public on the law’s implications and ramifications.
With the approval of HF 5247, Minnesota is also the easternmost state to ratify a lane-filtering bill. Given the recent trend, it could be far from the last.
More to come?
California was the only state to permit lane filtering prior to 2019. That means that five states have passed lane-filtering legislation in the last five years. Minnesota may not be the last one, either. Similar bills were previously presented in Missouri, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. Of course, each proposal comes with its own provisions, but it’s an encouraging development for motorcycle riders and advocates alike.
For now, six states have legalized lane filtering. Odds are, that total will change in the years to come.
