No, lane splitting remains illegal in Iowa under Iowa Code § 321.234, which prohibits motorcycles from overtaking or passing vehicles within the same lane. The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) enforces this restriction, citing safety risks and lack of legislative authorization. No 2026 compliance shifts are pending.
Key Regulations for Lane Splitting in Iowa
- Statutory Prohibition: Iowa Code § 321.234 explicitly bans lane splitting, defining it as operating a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or adjacent rows of vehicles.
- Enforcement by Iowa DOT: The agency conducts traffic enforcement, issuing citations to motorcyclists violating lane-splitting statutes, with fines up to $195 under Iowa Code § 805.8A(11).
- Local Jurisdiction Limits: While Iowa City and Des Moines have no local ordinances overriding state law, county sheriffs may issue additional citations under disorderly conduct statutes if lane splitting disrupts traffic flow.
The Iowa Motorcycle Operator Manual reinforces these restrictions, advising riders to occupy a full lane and avoid filtering or lane sharing. Violations may result in license points under Iowa’s driver’s license point system (Iowa Admin. Code r. 761—301.1). No exemptions exist for emergency vehicles or authorized escorts.