Louisiana
Is It Legal for Motorcycles to Drive Between Lanes in Louisiana, Texas?
Motorcyclists maneuvering between lanes, known as lane-splitting or lane-filtering, is a common sight on congested highways. As drivers inch forward in bumper-to-bumper traffic, motorcyclists often weave through the standstill, prompting mixed reactions from fellow motorists. While convenient for bikers, this practice raises questions about its legality, particularly in Louisiana and Texas.
Lane-Splitting and Lane-Filtering: What’s the Difference?
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Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to understand the distinction between lane-splitting and lane-filtering. According to the Ride Apart website, lane-filtering involves a motorcycle overtaking a stopped vehicle by driving between lanes and merging in front of another vehicle. On the other hand, lane-splitting is when a motorcycle rides along the dotted line between two lanes, creating a new lane.
The Legal Landscape in the United States
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Nationally, lane-splitting and lane-filtering are largely prohibited. However, several states have begun to legalize these practices. California was the first state to officially legalize lane-splitting in 2016, after decades of “unofficial tolerance.” Utah followed suit in 2019 with a lane-filtering law, and Montana did the same in early 2021. This year, Colorado’s lane-filtering law will take effect in August, and Arizona’s will follow in September. Minnesota plans to implement lane-splitting in January 2025.
Louisiana and Texas: The Legal Status
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In Louisiana and Texas, lane-splitting and lane-filtering remain illegal. Both states have stringent traffic laws that do not accommodate these practices, meaning motorcyclists caught riding between lanes can expect to receive a ticket. Enforcement is strict, and drivers are urged to adhere to traditional traffic patterns to avoid penalties.
While some states are progressively adopting lane-splitting and lane-filtering laws to alleviate congestion and enhance traffic flow, Louisiana and Texas have yet to make any moves in this direction. Motorcyclists in these states must remain patient and follow the standard traffic regulations, as any violation will likely result in fines and legal repercussions.
Looking Ahead
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As more states experiment with and adopt lane-splitting and lane-filtering laws, Louisiana and Texas could reconsider their stance in the future. For now, however, motorcyclists are advised to comply with current laws and practice caution on the roads.
For more information on where lane-splitting and lane-filtering are legal, visit the full report on Popcrush.
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Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones
A state lawmaker whose district includes Iberville and nine other parishes will lead the way on the drawing of a new congressional map when the committee convenes Friday.
Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen, will chair the hearings to draw a new congressional district map. He currently serves as chairman of the U.S. Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee.
On Wednesday, Kleinpeter said he has not worked on any maps. He is letting the committee members and the members of the Senate work on this with staff.
The move will come nine days after the U.S. Supreme Court on a 6-3 vote ruled one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black U.S. House districts unconstitutional.
“We can’t base it on race anymore, so the minority party is the Democrats,” he said. “The Democrats have migrated away from the New Orléans area, so we’re looking at Democrats versus Republicans, so the minority party — the Democrats — which means it’s more favored toward Baton Rouge.”
The move would work in favor of incumbent 6th District Congressman Cleo Fields, who was a candidate for the race which Gov. Jeff Lndry suspended in the wake of the Supreme Court decision.
The ruling stemmed from Louisiana vs. Callais – a consolidation of Robinson vs. Callais – that centered on racial gerrymandering and redistricting in the state of Louisiana following the 2020 United States census. The lead plaintiff, Phillip “Bert” Callais, is a resident of Brusly.
The Supreme Court vote came despite the African American population comprising nearly one-third of the state’s population.
According to the 2020 Census, the Black or African American population in Louisiana was approximately 1,464,023,representing 31.4%of the state’s total population. Louisiana has one of the highest percentages of Black residents in the United States, ranking second behind Mississippi.
The Baton Rouge district would likely be the area to undergo the remap, he said.
It amounts to an intricate balancing act.
“What far-right Republicans don’t understand is that with Congress maps, you have to be within 776, 280 votes – within 50 votes of the other districts,” Kleinpeter said. “It’s not like our legislative maps where you can be off by thousands … when you start changing a precinct, it can run down a rabbit hole chasing this precinct over here and over there.
“We can easily draw a really strong nine Republican and one strong Democrat, so if you start watering districts down you could wind up with a 4-2 map.”
Republicans currently have a two-vote super majority vote.
“But some Republican districts are strong and others are weak,” Kleinpeter said. “If you take 58 percent Democrats and put them in Republican districts, you could end up losing Republicans.
“Drawing congress maps is very difficult – you have the leader of the party, and you have the Speaker of the House you have to protect,” he said. “You don’t want to jeopardize their maps at hole.”
One other issue is looming for the state, Kleinpeter said.
“What people don’t understand is that we will have to do this all over again in five years, after the next census comes out,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll people by that time.”
The 2030 Census will play a key role in the process, but it still requires participation.
“I had plenty of next-door neighbors who didn’t want to fill out their census” he said. “I’m going to push to fill out their census. We miss out on federal money and potentially risk losing a seat. “
Neuty, the iconic Bucktown nutria visits the state capitol, with Myra Lacoste, Denny Lacoste, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Dennis Lacoste Sr., and Louisiana state Senator J. Cameron Henry Jr. Neuty was an orphan, rescued by the Lacostes. In March 2023, LDWF agents attempted to confiscate the illegal pet.
VIDALIA, La. — Louisiana State Police arrested 18-year-old Gregory Steele early Sunday morning on two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of underage operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, one count vehicular negligent injuring and one count careless operation, according to Concordia Parish Jail records.
Steele, 18, a white male, was arrested in connection with an accident that occurred at approximately 1:54 a.m. on Sunday morning on Minorca Road in Vidalia. Two passengers in the vehicle were killed. Steele and another passenger were able to escape the vehicle.
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