Splitting Lanes

I had a scootering friend from Denver question me on the legality of splitting lanes on motorcycles here in Los Angeles. I told him that as far as I could tell it was legal even though it may not be in the Los Angeles DMV motorcycle riders handbook. Since this question was posed to me I've been a bit wary (especially having heard of the increased fines for every traffic violation) to split lanes in front of the police. There have been a number of occasions I've been late for work and split the lane down Cahuenga/Highland and passed cop cars but today while doing the same thing I received confirmation.

Sometimes while riding the line through stopped cars there are two cars too close together and you can't pass. Well, today one of those two cars belonged to the Los Angeles Police Department and bless his law enforcing soul he was the car to move to the opposite side of the lane to allow me to pass. I gave him a nod and a thumbs up and carried on my way.

PS - The new blog format offers picture suggestions. What do you think?