Imagine a California Highway Patrol officer’s shock when he approached a semi truck and found the passenger lounging in a folding lawn chair. Complete with a hanging bag and cupholder. As funny as the image is, the CHP isn’t putting up with this “creative seating solution.” 

The San Joaquin County CHP issued the driver an infraction under California Vehicle Code 27315(e). The officer’s wording says it straight: “Right front passenger not belted — sitting in a lawn chair.” The officer also snapped a picture of the situation, which the CHP later shared.

How does this even happen? You can order a semi truck with a passenger seat delete option. Perhaps you’re a solo driver and you want to save room for storage or accessories such as a fridge to save some space in your sleeper cab berth. Or maybe you’re a fleet operator looking to buy a semi truck as cheaply as possible. The only problem is when you change your mind and want to transport a passenger. One tempting solution may be a folding lawn chair, but it could land you a ticket. The CHP reports it issued a similar citation to a different driver just months ago, in November 2025. 

“This might look like a creative seating solution, but using anything other than the manufacturer-installed seat while driving could be a serious safety risk. Vehicle seats are engineered to work with seat belts, airbags, and crash dynamics. A folding chair? Not so much. In a sudden stop or crash, unsecured seating can lead to severe injuries—or worse—because there’s nothing to keep you properly positioned or restrained. Short trips. Long trips. Any trip. Use the seat the vehicle was designed with. Because when things go wrong on the road, ‘close enough’ isn’t good enough.“ — California Highway Patrol