Sec. 545.051. DRIVING ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY. (a) An operator on a roadway of sufficient width shall drive on the right half of the roadway, unless:
(1) the operator is passing another vehicle;
(2) an obstruction necessitates moving the vehicle left of the center of the roadway and the operator yields the right-of-way to a vehicle that:
(A) is moving in the proper direction on the unobstructed portion of the roadway; and
(B) is an immediate hazard;
(3) the operator is on a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic; or
(4) the operator is on a roadway restricted to one-way traffic.
(b) An operator of a vehicle on a roadway moving more slowly than the normal speed of other vehicles at the time and place under the existing conditions shall drive in the right-hand lane available for vehicles, or as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, unless the operator is:
(1) passing another vehicle; or
(2) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(c) An operator on a roadway having four or more lanes for moving vehicles and providing for two-way movement of vehicles may not drive left of the center line of the roadway except:
(1) as authorized by an official traffic-control device designating a specified lane to the left side of the center of the roadway for use by a vehicle not otherwise permitted to use the lane;
(2) under the conditions described by Subsection (a)(2); or
(3) in crossing the center line to make a left turn into or out of an alley, private road, or driveway.
Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
59
cases (
8 in the last 5 years), 2001–2026 · leading case:
Bracken v. State, 282 S.W.3d 94 (Tex. App. 2009).
Bracken v. State, 282 S.W.3d 94 (Tex. App. 2009).
· cites it 6× “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (a) (Vernon 1999).”
United States v. Raney, 633 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 2011).
· cites it 4× “” Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (a) (West 1999).”
Johnson v. State, 365 S.W.3d 484 (Tex. App. 2012).
· cites it 4× “Further, Texas Transportation Code, Section 545.060 provides that an operator on a roadway divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic shall drive as nearly as practical entirely within a single lane and may not move from the lane unless that movement can be made…”
Green v. State, 93 S.W.3d 541 (Tex. App. 2002).
· cites it 3× “Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (b) (Vernon 1999); Fisher, 56 S.”
Doyle v. State, 317 S.W.3d 471 (Tex. App. 2010).
· cites it 4× “3d at 32 ; see Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (a) (Vernon 1999); State v.”
Rubeck v. State, 61 S.W.3d 741 (Tex. App. 2001).
“See Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (a) (Vernon 1999).”
Delafuente v. State, 414 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
“See Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(b) (“An operator of a vehicle on a roadway moving more slowly than the normal speed of other vehicles .”
Griffin v. State, 54 S.W.3d 820 (Tex. App. 2001).
“Traveling across the yellow line into oncoming traffic is a traffic violation in itself and does not require the additional element of an unsafe maneuver by the driver as does Tex.”
United States v. Johnson, 59 M.J. 666 (A.F.C.C.A. 2003).
“Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051. Crossing a double yellow centerline and drifting into an oncoming lane, even if it is not done in an unsafe manner, constitutes probable cause for a stop.”
George v. Price, 321 S.W.3d 164 (Tex. App. 2010).
“If Price was in the westbound lane, George and McVey correctly note that he violated Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (Vernon 1999) and that courts have found unexcused violations of this statute negligence per se.”
United States v. Raney, 633 F.3d 385 (5th Cir. 2011).
· cites it 4× “" TEX. TRANSP. CODE ANN. § 545.051(a) (West 1999).”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(a) — 18 cases
Doyle v. State, 317 S.W.3d 471 (Tex. App. 2010).
“3d at 32 ; see Tex. Transp. Code Ann. § 545.051 (a) (Vernon 1999); State v.”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(a)(1) — 1 case
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(a)(2) — 1 case
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(b) — 3 cases
Delafuente v. State, 414 S.W.3d 173 (Tex. Crim. App. 2013).
“See Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(b) (“An operator of a vehicle on a roadway moving more slowly than the normal speed of other vehicles .”
— Tex. Transp. Code § 545.051(c) — 3 cases
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