Is Lane Filtering Legal in Utah? The Rules and the 2027 Sunset

Last reviewed: October 18, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Utah's lane filtering law is scheduled to expire on July 1, 2027 unless the Legislature acts; check the current Utah Code before you ride.

Utah legalized lane filtering in 2019, and riders on State Street or a busy Salt Lake off-ramp use it every day. The rules are narrow, though, and the law has an expiry date that many riders do not know about.

Short answer: Is lane filtering legal in Utah? Yes, for now. Utah Code § 41-6a-704(6) allows a motorcyclist to pass stopped vehicles at 15 mph or less on roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or less (or a multi-lane off-ramp). Lane splitting, riding between lanes of moving traffic, is not allowed. The filtering law is scheduled to be repealed on July 1, 2027 under § 63I-1-241, which is what people mean by a "Utah lane splitting ban." For other states, see our state-by-state lane splitting guide.

Filtering vs. splitting: Utah defines both

Utah is one of the few states that defines both terms in its traffic code, in § 41-6a-102:

• Lane filtering means, on a motorcycle other than an autocycle, "the act of overtaking and passing another vehicle that is stopped in the same direction of travel in the same lane." The definition adds that lane filtering "does not include lane splitting."
• Lane splitting means "the act of riding a motorcycle between clearly marked lanes for traffic traveling in the same direction of travel while traffic is in motion."

The difference is whether the cars are stopped or moving. Utah allows the first, under conditions, and not the second.

Two consequences follow:

• Autocycles are excluded. A three-wheeled autocycle cannot filter.
• Moving traffic is off limits. The moment the cars beside you start rolling, you are no longer filtering. Section 41-6a-710(1) requires every vehicle to stay "as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane," and the only motorcycle exception is for lane filtering "as described in Section 41-6a-704."

The seven conditions, in plain English

All of these must be true at the same time:

The off-ramp rule came from H.B. 311 (2024), "Lane Filtering Amendments," signed March 20, 2024. It added multi-lane freeway off-ramps as a place where filtering is allowed, and made clear that on-ramps are not.

Is Utah banning lane filtering? The July 1, 2027 sunset

This is the part most riders miss. Utah passed lane filtering in 2019 as a trial with a built-in end date:

• 2019: H.B. 149 created lane filtering. It was signed March 21, 2019 and took effect May 14, 2019, with an original sunset of July 1, 2022.
• 2022: H.B. 10, "Lane Filtering Amendments," sponsored by Rep. Walt Brooks, pushed the sunset from 2022 to July 1, 2027.
• 2024: H.B. 311 added off-ramps and excluded on-ramps.

Today, § 63I-1-241 lists three lane filtering provisions to be repealed on July 1, 2027: the definition of lane filtering in § 41-6a-102, the permission in § 41-6a-704(6), and the single-lane exception in § 41-6a-710(1)(c). If nothing changes, filtering will become illegal in Utah on that date, and passing stopped cars in their lane would simply break the keep-in-your-lane rule.

What lawmakers have done in 2026

On May 20, 2026, the Legislature's Transportation Interim Committee held a sunset review on lane filtering. The committee's minutes record presentations from legislative staff and the Department of Public Safety, testimony from rider groups in favor of filtering, and a suggestion from Rep. Thurston to extend the sunset five years to gather more data. Chair Harper recommended reevaluating the sunset at a later date, looking into rider and public education, and forming a working group.

KSL reported that the Utah Highway Patrol said it was neutral on the sunset, and that its larger concern was riders filtering on roads where it is not allowed or lane splitting in moving traffic. As of October 2026 we have not found an enacted extension. The 2027 General Session, which begins in January 2027, is the next regular session before the July 1, 2027 repeal date. Check the current statute before you rely on filtering after that date.

Penalties

Filtering outside the conditions is an infraction under § 41-6a-704(7). Lane splitting in moving traffic breaks § 41-6a-710, which is also an infraction.

Under Utah Code § 76-3-301(1)(e), the maximum fine for an infraction is $750. The court sets the actual amount, which is often lower.

The bigger risk is often a crash. If you were filtering at 25 mph, or splitting in moving traffic, the other side can argue you were outside the law when it happened. That can affect fault and compensation. Our guide to finding a motorcycle injury lawyer covers what to do if you are hurt.

How Utah compares

Utah's model is close to Arizona's, and much narrower than California's. See our guides to lane splitting in California, lane splitting in Texas and lane splitting in Washington.

Filtering safely in Utah

• Wait for a full stop. If the cars are creeping, wait.
• Keep it at walking-to-jogging pace. 15 mph is the legal maximum, not a target.
• Check the speed limit sign. A road posted at 50 mph is off limits even when traffic is jammed.
• Skip on-ramps entirely.
• Watch for doors and right turns as you reach the front of the queue.
• Stop filtering if a lane is narrow or you are next to a truck or bus.
• Mark July 1, 2027 in your calendar, and check whether the Legislature has extended the law before then.

Sources

• Utah Code § 41-6a-704 (Utah Legislature)
• Utah Code § 41-6a-102, definitions (Utah Legislature)
• Utah Code § 41-6a-710 (Utah Legislature)
• Utah Code § 63I-1-241, repeal dates (Utah Legislature)
• Utah Code § 76-3-301, fines (Utah Legislature)
• H.B. 149 (2019) (Utah Legislature)
• H.B. 10, Lane Filtering Amendments (2022) (Utah Legislature)
• H.B. 311, Lane Filtering Amendments (2024) (Utah Legislature)
• Transportation Interim Committee agenda, May 20, 2026 (Utah Legislature)
• Transportation Interim Committee minutes, May 20, 2026 (Utah Legislature)
• Utah lawmakers to explore lane-filtering extension (KSL, May 20, 2026)