All states have laws that prohibit drivers from making unsafe lane changes. State laws generally require a driver on a road with marked lanes to operate the vehicle within a single lane and to move to another lane only at a time and in a manner that is safe.

This means a driver may not cross more than one lane of traffic at a time, must allow a safe distance between the driver’s vehicle and other vehicles, and must signal the lane change with a blinker, as required by law. The failure to do so may result in a ticket or citation for an unsafe lane change.

The penalty for making an unsafe lane change usually includes a fine and demerit points on your driver’s license or record.

As with many traffic violations, the officer issuing the citation and the prosecutor have significant discretion in determining whether there was a violation of a traffic law and whether the violation constitutes a certain offense, as defined by the state legislature in the traffic code or in a municipal ordinance.

This discretion to issue a ticket or citation and prosecute the charge against the driver is balanced by the discretion of the jury or judge in determining whether the prosecution met its burden of proof sufficient to convict the driver (for a criminal offense) or find the driver responsible (for a civil infraction, violation, or offense).

In Mississippi, as in other states, laws are in place to ensure that drivers make lane changes safely. Mississippi Code Section 63-3-603 requires drivers to use a turn signal at least 100 feet before changing lanes on a highway, and Section 63-3-605 mandates that drivers must stay within a single lane until they have determined that moving from the lane is safe. Failing to adhere to these rules can result in a citation for an unsafe lane change. The penalties for such an infraction typically include a monetary fine and may also result in demerit points being added to the driver's license record. The amount of the fine and the number of points can vary. Law enforcement officers have discretion in issuing citations, and prosecutors have discretion in bringing charges. However, if a case goes to court, it is up to the judge or jury to decide whether the driver is guilty of the offense, based on whether the prosecution has met its burden of proof.