‘Close to 1,000’ vehicles surrendered at Orange County e-bike buyback event

KTLA ^ | Sep 14, 2026 / | Will Conybeare

[BenLurkin]

Nearly 1,000 vehicles, including e-bikes and e-motorcycles, were surrendered at a buyback event in Orange County on Sunday.

A spokesperson with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office told KTLA on Monday morning that officials were still counting, but she believed the number of e-bikes surrendered was “close to 1,000.”

“We had nine full truckloads of 26-foot U-Haul trucks,” the spokesperson said.

The event was the O.C. District Attorney’s office first E-Bike and E-Moto Buy Back Program, which took place Sunday at Angel Stadium. Those who brought their vehicles were offered up to $1,000 in gift cards and tickets to an Angels game; surrendered vehicles included e-bikes, pocket bikes, e-Scooters, mopeds, and electric motorcycles.

The OCDA spokesperson on Monday morning said that, even after officials ran out of gift cards, people still surrendered their vehicles.

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TOPICS: Local News
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[BenLurkin]

Somebody please explain to mean what this means. Why are these being “surrendered” and why did the police it to them in the first place that now they have to “buy it back”?

[Red Badger]

Are they now illegal?.................

[Organic Panic]

They were all stolen. Teens love they e bikes

[FlingWingFlyer]

Babylon Bee or just another goofy as hell, Californico E-Scum Event?

[George from New England]

So lesson learned, .. Steal more for more $$$

[FlingWingFlyer]

Do these fruit and nut coasties have condom “buy back” events yet?

[Scrambler Bob]

And one interviewed Dad said, “Good, now my son will be safe on the street.”

Hey Dad, just were did he get his bike. And did you know and allow it?

[FlingWingFlyer]

Seriously, is that what this is about? Buying back stolen E-Crap so it can be returned to the owners?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I’m guessing it was an easy way for the crooks to unload their stolen goods, get paid, and no questions asked.

[P8riot]

They’d never give $1,000 in a gun “buyback”.

[Nervous Tick]

>> And one interviewed Dad said, “Good, now my son will be safe on the street.”

Hmmm... dad’s kinda naive. Why, I’ll bet he even believes he’s the real daddy!

[Vaduz]

It’s not unusual to see many of the on the freeways doing wheelies and tying up traffic the more jerks off the road the better.

[skr]

Rewarding thieves is insanity.

[TheDon]

Saving lives. Parents bought them without realizing the danger they are to their children and the public.

“The event came amid a rise in e-bike injuries and deaths across Southern California, many of which involve young riders. Just yesterday, a person on an e-bike was killed in an overnight crash in Los Angeles’ Arleta neighborhood.

“I’m throwing every option that I have at this very, very serious public policy issue,” Orange County District Attorney told KTLA on Sunday. “We don’t know what’s going to stick, whether it’s going to be education or enforcement or buybacks, but we’re trying everything we can to address the issue.””

[libstripper]

E bikes, selling at Walmart for about $500, are pretty cheap, especially considering that they sell a 14 speed pedal driven road bike for about $307.00 That means a lot of kids, too young to operate powered vehicles, are doing so and getting into accidents.

[Resolute Conservative]

It is a right to be stupid. Government stay out.

[ComputerGuy]

Were any of them not stolen?

[Seruzawa]

So ebike thieves are given $1000 to return the bikes? Why wouldn’t they steal 5 or 6 bikes next time. This is so stupid as to beggar the imagination. What moron thought of this? Who are the morons who approved it?

[Fai Mao]

“It’s not unusual to see many of the on the freeways doing wheelies and tying up traffic the more jerks off the road the better.”

E-bikes and scooters aren’t fast enough to do wheelies on the freeway.

They max out at about 25mph