Who is at fault in a crash under new motorcycle lane-filtering laws

Colorado's new law allowing motorcyclists to pass on the left side of a lane when traffic is at a complete stop might take some getting used to.

This is called lane filtering, and the Colorado State Patrol says troopers have been receiving questions about who would be at fault if it results in a crash.

Here's what to know:

The motorcyclist would be at fault if:

• Traffic isn't at a complete stop. “If vehicles are moving, even slowly or for a short distance, the motorcyclist would be at fault,” stated Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, in a news release.
• The lane is not wide enough to fit both the vehicle and a motorcycle while passing. "Riders must also ensure that there is enough room for them to pass on the left side of the vehicle while staying in the same lane," the news release says. "If the lane cannot accommodate both vehicles, the motorcyclist should not pass." It's always illegal to pass on the shoulder of the road.
• The motorcycle is going more than 15 mph while passing.
• The rider of the motorcycle is not passing safely and controlling the motorcycle.
• The rider of the motorcycle is not passing on the left or is entering the oncoming lane of traffic.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Who is at fault in a crash under new motorcycle lane-filtering laws