Orange County authorities recently concluded what they believe to be the first e-bike buyback event of its kind in the United States, an initiative intended to remove e-bikes—which they have characterized as a dangerous and deadly weapon—from local streets. The program, spearheaded by the Orange County district attorney’s office, attracted substantial participation but also drew criticism regarding its allocation of resources.
Modeled after traditional gun buyback programs, the event on Sunday allowed individuals to surrender e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-motorcycles in exchange for gift cards ranging from $200 to $1,000, depending on the type of vehicle. District Attorney Todd Spitzer revealed that over $100,000 was budgeted for the program, a figure he initially did not expect to reach. Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the district attorney’s office, credited Spitzer with the concept and estimated that nearly 1,000 vehicles were surrendered in total, filling nine 26-foot U-Haul trucks. Even after the supply of gift cards was depleted, people continued to turn in their electric vehicles, Edds said.
The gift cards, accepted at retailers such as Target, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Best Buy, were funded using asset forfeiture funds specifically designated for crime prevention. Additionally, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley contributed $5,000 to the program. Attendees showed strong interest, with the first person arriving at midnight Sunday. The last gift card of the day went to a father-son duo who reported waiting since 7:30 a.m. for the event that commenced at 10 a.m. The first 75 participants also received tickets to a Los Angeles Angels baseball game.
Following their surrender, the district attorney’s office plans to have an environmental contractor remove the lithium batteries for proper disposal. The vehicles will then be transported to a recycling center and shredded, according to Edds.
The program, however, faced considerable online criticism, with some users on platforms like Reddit and Nextdoor describing it as "a big waste of government money" and a "performative action." Concerns were also raised about whether surrendered bikes could have been stolen. District Attorney Spitzer acknowledged the "blowback" and actively responded to critics, explaining that the funds came from asset forfeiture, not taxpayer money, and that serial numbers on bikes were checked against stolen databases. Spitzer stated that the primary goal was to encourage surrender, rather than to scrutinize individual motivations, so recipients were not required to promise not to purchase another e-bike.
Spitzer sees the buyback as one component of a broader, multi-pronged effort to enhance street safety and reduce collisions involving e-bikes. This comprehensive approach includes advocating for legislative changes, such as mandatory safety classes and licensing for young riders, alongside increased enforcement by local police and the county Sheriff’s Department, and voluntary safety education. Spitzer affirmed his aggressive stance, noting that he is not only prosecuting young riders but also filing child endangerment charges against parents if he can prove they knowingly provided an inappropriate or modified e-bicycle or -motorcycle to a child. Since January, the district attorney’s office has filed such charges against four parents.
Looking ahead, Spitzer is considering future buyback events, with potential adjustments to improve efficiency, such as establishing multiple processing lines and limiting participation to Orange County residents or those with a verifiable connection to the county. The paramount factor for future events, he noted, will be securing funding. Spitzer highlighted that asset forfeiture funds are not unlimited, raising the question of whether future iterations of the program would require taxpayer support, a scenario he has thus far aimed to avoid.
