Orange County launches e-bike buyback program to improve safety

The Orange County District Attorney’s office has announced a first-of-its-kind e-bike buyback program to address a rise in deaths, injuries, and prosecutions involving electric vehicles. On Sunday, September 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., individuals can surrender e-bikes, e-motorcycles, e-scooters, and pocket bikes at Angel Stadium in exchange for gift cards to retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Gift card values will range from $200 to $1,000 depending on the vehicle type. The program is funded by money collected from criminal enterprises and is intended for crime prevention. Participants can surrender working or non-working vehicles anonymously and without questions. The event is open to individuals regardless of whether they are Orange County residents.

District Attorney Todd Spitzer noted that injuries related to e-bikes and e-motorcycles have increased significantly in Southern California over the last four years, becoming the leading reason for emergency room admissions among Orange County youth. In response to these trends, Spitzer has established a new e-bike unit to review potential criminal charges, including prosecuting parents in cases involving e-motorcycle deaths caused by teenagers.