Legality of Seat Orientation

[giffygiff]

Does anyone know if there are any laws regarding which direction seats must be facing in a vehicle? I’m working on plans for converting a 1979 transporter into a camper wagon, but I’d ideally like to keep the ability of hauling around a bunch of friends too. Typically you always see seats facing forward, but I am wondering if you’d get in trouble if anyone was seated facing the back of the bus. I figure it must be safe since baby carriers face this way, but I can’t find any info out there. Thanks!
*Note: I live in the U.S.

[Abscate]

There is legal-criminal which relates to getting a ticket for improper equipment. State regs vary with regard to seat belts and use as originally manufactured. If you put too many seats in, life gets interesting

And there is legal civil which is den of thieves. You put a seat in from another Vw, have an accident, and your friends insurance company sues you for the outcome. Results have little correspondence to logic or reason,

You will need state specific advice. There are maximum occupancy type stickers by Federal decree, I believe.
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.ssS!

[HoboBus]

Old American station wagons had seats in the back that faced the rear. Some faced each other.

I'd say it would have more to do with OEM, versus direction of the seats. Anything thats not OEM you do yourself, you'd be opening yourself up to possible legal issues in an accident.

A Bus camper had a single jump seat facing the rear, right behind the driver.
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Salt air it ain't thin, it'll stick right to your skin,
it'll make you feel fine. Makes you feel fine.
And I wanna be there. -- Jimmy Buffett

Just a beach-oriented camping Hobo with a bus.

[Wildthings]

Some Vanagons had two rear facing seats, one behind each drivers seat. The forces you see in an accident will easily rip a seat loose from its mounting if not done well, at which point the seat and its occupants become lethal projectiles.

[SGKent]

basically the child seats need to be attached per manufacturer's specs. Your seats have to accommodate that. Seats must have seat belts. You become liable for any damage someone suffers forever in that bus if someone can finger you as the who done it, like they find this post for example. And what everyone else said.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[otiswesty]

I added a rear facing 5th seat in my bus. I figured if they are stock in a Vangon, it should be okay/legal in a Bus as well.

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1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab

Just a regular guy