2 door rear seat removal complication

[BroncoAZ]

I removed my rear seats last October and have no intention of putting them back in the truck, or at least I had no intention. I just took my truck for the MA state inspection. The inspector said he would pass it this time, but on future inspections he needs to be able to test all of the seatbelts in order to pass the vehicle. I attempted to explain to him that the seats weren’t going back in (there is a wood platform with my ARB fridge covering the place where the seats were) but he said they are monitored by four cameras and the overlords from the state need to see him test all the seatbelts that the truck was delivered with. I asked him if I could completely remove the rear shoulder belts, he said that wasn’t acceptable as someone could attempt to put more passengers than seatbelts in the truck at some future date. In MA the inspection stations are independent businesses. I will try a different inspection station next year to see if I can avoid the issue again.

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[Lowcountry Bronco]

I removed my rear seats last October and have no intention of putting them back in the truck, or at least I had no intention. I just took my truck for the MA state inspection. The inspector said he would pass it this time, but on future inspections he needs to be able to test all of the seatbelts in order to pass the vehicle. I attempted to explain to him that the seats weren’t going back in (there is a wood platform with my ARB fridge covering the place where the seats were) but he said they are monitored by four cameras and the overlords from the state need to see him test all the seatbelts that the truck was delivered with. I asked him if I could completely remove the rear shoulder belts, he said that wasn’t acceptable as someone could attempt to put more passengers than seatbelts in the truck at some future date. In MA the inspection stations are independent businesses. I will try a different inspection station next year to see if I can avoid the issue again.

I think they may be right, this is from:

540 CMR 4.00: ANNUAL SAFETY AND COMBINED SAFETY AND EMISSIONS INSPECTION
OF ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, TRAILERS, SEMI-TRAILERS AND CONVERTER DOLLIES

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/09/27/540cmr4.pdf

Safety Belts, Lap Belts and Shoulder Restraints. Safety belts, lap belts and shoulder
restraints originally installed in motor vehicles manufactured after July 1, 1966 shall be inspected
to assure that all are maintained in good order. It shall be the responsibility of the motorist that
the safety belts are readily accessible for inspection.

Only waiver part I see is for emissions, not safety but check with your State's Dept of Transportation to see if what I posted is correct/current.

Good luck!

 

[kr_1315]

Disconnect the rear shoulders belts from the roll bar and tuck them behind the plastic side panels. Place a bolt in the roll bar where the seatbelt was connected to give it a finished look.
Find a different inspection station that utilizes sound judgement. Tell them the Bronco only came with front seatbelts because there is no rear seat.
If that doesn't work, move to a less communist state. Lol.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Disconnect the rear shoulders belts from the roll bar and tuck them behind the plastic side panels. Place a bolt in the roll bar where the seatbelt was connected to give it a finished look.
Find a different inspection station that utilizes sound judgement. Tell them the Bronco only came with front seatbelts because there is no rear seat.
If that doesn't work, move to a less communist state. Lol.

Doesn't matter, if the vehicle originally came with belts for the back then they have to check them.

From my above post: originally installed not currently (un)installed

SC doesn't care, no safety or emission check here, at least where I'm at ... I think we're still allowed to ride in the back of a pickem'up truck too!

 

[BroncoAZ]

One funny thing, the Bronco is designated as seating for five people, but of course my 2 door only came with four seatbelts.

Thanks @Lowcountry Bronco for looking up the rules. Maybe I can get away with removing the platform and bolting the seatbelts down for the inspection. The seatbelts would function but there wouldn’t be any seats to use them.

 

[kr_1315]

Doesn't matter, if the vehicle originally came with belts for the back then they have to check them.

From my above post: originally installed not currently (un)installed

SC doesn't care, no safety or emission check here, at least where I'm at ... I think we're still allowed to ride in the back of a pickem'up truck too!

I read what you wrote, my point was that the inspector will have no idea how many seat belts were originally installed if they are removed correctly.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

I read what you wrote, my point was that the inspector will have no idea how many seat belts were originally installed if they are removed correctly.

I'm following but if they pull up the VIN on what to check it's going to show. Don't know if they're that organized or not and the OP got a pass on the inspection probably because the inspector didn't feel like arguing the point or really how to enforce it since the seats were removed but he could have failed him on how the law is written.

 

[BroncoAZ]

I argued the case a little, but the guy was clear that the rules are the same for everyone and that I won’t get a pass in subsequent years.

 

[21BL2DR]

time to register that vehicle in another state. By yourself a 1/4 acre lot somewhere.

 

[Fly]

One funny thing, the Bronco is designated as seating for five people, but of course my 2 door only came with four seatbelts.

Thanks @Lowcountry Bronco for looking up the rules. Maybe I can get away with removing the platform and bolting the seatbelts down for the inspection. The seatbelts would function but there wouldn’t be any seats to use them.

I'll bet that would work. Doesn't look like the regulation says anything about the seat itself, just the belt

 

[vicorjh]

I removed my rear seats last October and have no intention of putting them back in the truck, or at least I had no intention. I just took my truck for the MA state inspection. The inspector said he would pass it this time, but on future inspections he needs to be able to test all of the seatbelts in order to pass the vehicle. I attempted to explain to him that the seats weren’t going back in (there is a wood platform with my ARB fridge covering the place where the seats were) but he said they are monitored by four cameras and the overlords from the state need to see him test all the seatbelts that the truck was delivered with. I asked him if I could completely remove the rear shoulder belts, he said that wasn’t acceptable as someone could attempt to put more passengers than seatbelts in the truck at some future date. In MA the inspection stations are independent businesses. I will try a different inspection station next year to see if I can avoid the issue again.

MA is retarded.




I'd also like to do a rear seat delete. Please let us know the outcome ...

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