Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 316.089 (2025)
Driving on roadways laned for traffic.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
FL-LEGleg.state.fl.us
JustiaFla. Statutes
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
316.089 Driving on roadways laned for traffic.—Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others consistent herewith, shall apply:
(1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.
(2) Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes and provides for two-way movement of traffic, a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle traveling in the same direction when such center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, when in preparation for making a left turn, or where such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the same direction that the vehicle is proceeding and such allocation is designated by official traffic control devices.
(3) Official traffic control devices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway; and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such device.
(4) Official traffic control devices may be installed prohibiting the changing of lanes on sections of roadway, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such device.
(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. 316.089
Driver's license points · R = revocation · S = suspension§316.089Failed to use DESIGNATED LANE/ Failed to DRIVE WITHIN SINGLE LANE
§316.089(1)Fail to drive in single lane
§316.089(2)Improper center lane use
§316.089(3)Fail to use designated lane
§316.089(4)Disobey No Change of Lane device
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 35
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1976–2025 · leading case: Crooks v. State, 710 So. 2d 1041 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
Crooks v. State, 710 So. 2d 1041 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). “Section 316.089 provides in pertinent part: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for *1043 traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others, consistent herewith, shall apply: (1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable…”
Hurd v. State, 958 So. 2d 600 (Fla. 4th DCA 2007). “§ 316.089, Fla. Stat. (2005). However, the failure to maintain a single lane alone cannot establish probable cause when the action is done safely.”
State of Tennessee v. Linzey Danielle Smith, 484 S.W.3d 393 (Tenn. 2016). “1998) (holding that Florida’s version of Section 123(1) is not violated unless “the driver’s conduct created a reasonable safety concern” (citing Fla. Stat. § 316.089 (1) (1995))); Rowe v.”
Jordan v. State, 831 So. 2d 1241 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). “Crooks drove on any of the three occasions, there is no basis to state that he was outside his "practicable" lane.”
Hunter v. Ward, 812 So. 2d 601 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). “See § 316.089(1), Fla. Stat. (2000). Here, when Ward changed lanes blindly, it was reasonably expected that he might happen upon stopped traffic.”
State v. Knowles, 625 So. 2d 88 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993). “ Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others consistent herewith, shall apply.”
State, Dep't of High. Saf. & Motor Vehs. v. Jones, 935 So. 2d 532 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006). “Section 316.089, Florida Statutes (2005), in pertinent part provides: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others consistent herewith, shall apply: (1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly…”
State v. Potter, 438 So. 2d 1085 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983). “" In the instant case, Officer Green's observations of respondent's vehicle within the city limits indicated a violation of section 316.089(1), Florida Statutes (1981), a civil infraction involving failure to maintain a single lane.”
Yanes v. State, 877 So. 2d 25 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004). “§ 316.089(1), Fla. Stat. (2002) (emphasis supplied).”
Roberts v. State, 732 So. 2d 1127 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999). “The deputy then pulled her over for violation of § 316.089(1), Florida Statutes, failure to maintain vehicle in a single lane.”
Alford v. Cool Cargo Carriers, Inc., 936 So. 2d 646 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006). “See § 316.089(1), Fla. Stat. (2001) ("A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.”
Cox v. State, 334 So. 2d 568 (Fla. 1976). “Petitioner was charged with violations of §§ 316.089, 316.059 and 316.028, Florida Statutes.”
— 316.089(1) — 20 cases
Crooks v. State, 710 So. 2d 1041 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998). “Section 316.089 provides in pertinent part: Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for *1043 traffic, the following rules, in addition to all others, consistent herewith, shall apply: (1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable…”
Hunter v. Ward, 812 So. 2d 601 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002). “See § 316.089(1), Fla. Stat. (2000). Here, when Ward changed lanes blindly, it was reasonably expected that he might happen upon stopped traffic.”
State v. Potter, 438 So. 2d 1085 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983). “" In the instant case, Officer Green's observations of respondent's vehicle within the city limits indicated a violation of section 316.089(1), Florida Statutes (1981), a civil infraction involving failure to maintain a single lane.”
Yanes v. State, 877 So. 2d 25 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004). “§ 316.089(1), Fla. Stat. (2002) (emphasis supplied).”
Jordan v. State, 831 So. 2d 1241 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002). “Crooks drove on any of the three occasions, there is no basis to state that he was outside his "practicable" lane.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.