Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 316.081 (2025)
Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions.
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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;
(c) Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable thereon; or
(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.
Civil Citations under F.S. 316.081
Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension§316.081WRONG SIDE OF ROADWAY - Driving on
§316.081(1)Driving on wrong lane or side - failed to drive upon right half of roadway
§316.081(2)Fail to drive to right when driving less than normal speed of traffic
§316.081(3)Driving in left lane when being overtaken from rear
§316.081(4)Driving left of center line on roadway having four or more lanes
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9
cases, 1973–2019 · leading case: United States v. Reginald Wayne Gibbs, 917 F.3d 1289 (11th Cir. 2019).
United States v. Reginald Wayne Gibbs, 917 F.3d 1289 (11th Cir. 2019). “Unquestionably, this was a vehicular violation under Florida law, Fla. Stat. § 316.081 (1), 2 one that posed a palpable safety risk facing head-on into the oncoming traffic.”
State v. Rodriguez, 904 So. 2d 594 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005). “125(2), which requires a driver of a vehicle emerging from an alley, building, private road or driveway within a business or residential district to stop prior to entering a roadway, and section 316.081, which prohibits driving on the wrong side of the roadway.”
State of Florida v. Allen Robert Boston, 267 So. 3d 463 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019). “Boston's violation of section 316.081, which prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on the wrong side of the road, justified the stop.”
Riley v. Willis, 585 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991). “The instruction contained section 316.081(1)(b), *1027 Florida Statutes (1987), which provides in relevant part: (1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows: (b) When an obstruction exists making it…”
United States v. Delvin Deon Tinker, 618 F. App'x 635 (11th Cir. 2015). “See Fla. Stat. § 316.081 (1), (5) (requiring vehicles to drive on the right side of the roadway).”
State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Jones, 935 So. 2d 532 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006). “This was a violation of section 316.081 of the Florida Statutes which requires only that “a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway” except when passing another vehicle, when avoiding an obstruction, when the roadway is divided into three lanes, or when the…”
State Ex Rel. Miller v. Patterson, 284 So. 2d 9 (Fla. 2d DCA 1973). “" Thereafter, such *10 citation was filed in the County Court of Pinellas County, there to serve, pursuant to § 316.081, F.S. 1971, F.S.A., as an accusatory writ upon which prosecution may be had.”
Stivers v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 777 So. 2d 1023 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). “(2000) ("fire hazard"); §§ 316.081(1)(b), 316.087(1)(a) & (b), 316.”
State v. Neilson, 41 Fla. Supp. 118 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Orange Cty. 1974). “(1973 Revision), and Fla. Stat. 316.081 (1974), concludes that there is no Florida Traffic Court Rule or Florida Statute which specifically requires that traffic tickets be verified.”
— 316.081(1) — 1 case
State of Florida v. Allen Robert Boston, 267 So. 3d 463 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019). “Boston's violation of section 316.081, which prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on the wrong side of the road, justified the stop.”
— 316.081(1)(b) — 2 cases
Riley v. Willis, 585 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991). “The instruction contained section 316.081(1)(b), *1027 Florida Statutes (1987), which provides in relevant part: (1) Upon all roadways of sufficient width, a vehicle shall be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except as follows: (b) When an obstruction exists making it…”
Stivers v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 777 So. 2d 1023 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). “(2000) ("fire hazard"); §§ 316.081(1)(b), 316.087(1)(a) & (b), 316.”
— 316.081(5) — 1 case
State of Florida v. Allen Robert Boston, 267 So. 3d 463 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019). “Boston's violation of section 316.081, which prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle on the wrong side of the road, justified the stop.”
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