Florida Statute 316.081 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES

Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL

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F.S. 316.081

316.081 Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions.—

(1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows:

(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing such movement;

(b) When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the highway; provided any person so doing shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to constitute an immediate hazard;

(d) Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.

(2) Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) On a road, street, or highway having two or more lanes allowing movement in the same direction, a driver may not continue to operate a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane if the driver knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being overtaken in that lane from the rear by a motor vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed. This subsection does not apply to drivers operating a vehicle that is overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or is preparing for a left turn at an intersection.

(4) Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way movement of traffic, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of the centerline of the roadway, except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain lanes to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or except as permitted under paragraph (1)(b). However, this subsection shall not be construed as prohibiting the crossing of the centerline in making a left turn into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.

(5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

History.—s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 104, ch. 99-248; s. 11, ch. 2013-160; s. 5, ch. 2014-216.

F.S. 316.081 on Google Scholar

F.S. 316.081 on Casetext

Amendments to 316.081

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 316.081

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 316.081.

Civil Citations / Citable Offenses under S316.081

R or S next to points is Mandatory Revocation or Suspension

S316.081 WRONG SIDE OF ROADWAY - Driving on - Points on Drivers License: 0

S316.081 (1) Driving on wrong lane or side - failed to drive upon right half of roadway - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.081 (2) Fail to drive to tight when driving less than normal speed of traffic - Points on Drivers License: 3

S316.081 (3) Driving left of center line on roadway having four or more lanes - Points on Drivers License: 3

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 316.081

Total Results: 15

STATE OF FLORIDA v. ALLEN ROBERT BOSTON

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2019-01-18

Citation: 267 So. 3d 463

Snippet: argues that Mr. Boston's violation of section 316.081, which prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle

State, Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles v. Jones

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2006-05-31

Citation: 935 So. 2d 532, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 8559, 2006 WL 1479640

Snippet: apparent reason. This was a violation of section 316.081 of the Florida Statutes which requires only that

State v. Rodriguez

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2005-06-17

Citation: 904 So. 2d 594, 2005 WL 1412065

Snippet: stop prior to entering a roadway, and section 316.081, which prohibits driving on the wrong side of the

Stivers v. Ford Motor Credit Co.

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 2000-12-27

Citation: 777 So. 2d 1023, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 16890, 2000 WL 1872986

Snippet: 082(1), Fla. Stat. (2000) ("fire hazard"); §§ 316.081(1)(b), 316.087(1)(a) & (b), 316.122, 316.123, 316

Ratley v. Batchelor

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1992-05-01

Citation: 599 So. 2d 1298, 1991 WL 104643

Snippet: negligence. The court instructed the jury on sections 316.081, 316.185, and 316.1925, but denied her request

Riley v. Willis

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1991-08-22

Citation: 585 So. 2d 1024, 1991 WL 159168

Snippet: improperly given. The instruction contained section 316.081(1)(b), *1027 Florida Statutes (1987), which provides

Ryder Truck Rental, Inc. v. Johnson

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1985-04-11

Citation: 466 So. 2d 1240, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 939

Snippet: instructions based on Florida traffic statutes, Sections 316.081(2) and 316.085(2), Florida Statutes, was also error

State v. Lee

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1978-02-23

Citation: 356 So. 2d 276

Snippet: 316.055, 316.056, 316.0565, 316.057(9), 316.061, 316.081, 316.082, 316.083, 316.084, 316.085, 316.086, 316

Ago

Court: Florida Attorney General Reports | Date Filed: 1977-07-13

Snippet: 316.055, 316.056, 316.0565, 316.057(9), 316.061, 316.081, 316.082, 316.083, 316.084, 316.085, 316.086,

State Ex Rel. Miller v. Patterson

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1973-10-17

Citation: 284 So. 2d 9

Snippet: Pinellas County, there to serve, pursuant to § 316.081, F.S. 1971, F.S.A., as an accusatory writ upon

Kuhn v. Telford

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida | Date Filed: 1959-08-28

Citation: 115 So. 2d 36

Snippet: correcting what appears to be a mistake."' 77 Fla. 316, 81 So. 478. "The dividing line (a grey area at best)

Hilkmeyer v. Latin American Air Cargo Expediters

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1957-04-24

Citation: 94 So. 2d 821

Snippet: correcting what appears to be a mistake.'" 77 Fla. 316, 81 So. 478. The dividing line [a grey area at best]

Chastain v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1937-12-16

Citation: 189 So. 49, 136 Fla. 388, 1937 Fla. LEXIS 1041

Snippet: Gravette v. Turner, 77 Fla. 311, text pages 314-316,81 Sou. Rep. 476: "In directing a verdict the court

Hastings v. Taylor

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1937-11-18

Citation: 177 So. 621, 130 Fla. 249, 1937 Fla. LEXIS 838

Snippet: Gravette v. Turner, 77 Fla. 311, text pages 314-316,81 Sou. Rep. 476: "In directing a verdict the court

Holland v. State

Court: Supreme Court of Florida | Date Filed: 1937-09-29

Citation: 176 So. 169, 129 Fla. 363, 1937 Fla. LEXIS 1114

Snippet: Gravette v. Turner, 77 Fla. 311, text pages 314-316, 81 Sou. Rep. 476, when the following language was