No. Lane splitting remains illegal in Montana as of 2026, with no legislative or Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) proposals to legalize it. State statutes (61-8-315 MCA) prohibit motorcyclists from overtaking vehicles within the same lane, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Missoula and Billings Police Departments, actively enforce these restrictions. The Montana Supreme Court has not recognized lane splitting as a defensible maneuver, leaving riders vulnerable to citations for unsafe lane changes.
Key Regulations for Lane Splitting in Montana
- Statutory Prohibition: Montana Code Annotated §61-8-315 explicitly bars motorcycles from operating between lanes of traffic or adjacent rows of vehicles, classifying it as a moving violation.
- Enforcement Priorities: The Montana Highway Patrol targets lane splitting as a high-risk behavior under its 2025-2026 traffic safety initiative, particularly in urban corridors like I-90 and US-93.
- Local Ordinances: Cities such as Bozeman and Helena have municipal codes mirroring state law, with additional penalties for reckless operation under local traffic ordinances.
Montana’s regulatory framework contrasts with neighboring states like Idaho, where lane filtering is permitted under specific conditions. The MDT’s 2026 Traffic Safety Plan omits lane splitting from its proposed reforms, signaling no imminent policy shifts. Riders should anticipate strict enforcement and potential license penalties for violations.