E-Bike Buyback Aims to Protect Teens, Kids by Getting Them Off OC Streets
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (August 21, 2026) — The Orange County District Attorney wants to make streets safer, but not by removing guns and other weapons, they want your e-bikes, electric motorcycles, and e-scooters.
The one-day buyback program scheduled for next month targets these dangerous electric bicycles and vehicles. It doesn’t matter if they are in working condition or not. No questions asked; surrender the goods and get a gift card ranging from $200 to $1,000.
Orange County officials are taking this unusual approach to a growing safety problem due to the rise of serious injury and fatality crashes. Some incidents have even made national headlines, such as one that claimed the life of a veteran.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will hold a buyback event Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Angel Stadium.
The program is not only open to residents of Orange County, and to sweeten the deal, the first 75 participants will also receive two tickets to a Los Angeles Angels game.
Why Is Orange County Doing This?
The buyback comes amid increasing concern over serious and fatal crashes involving electric bicycles and motorcycles, particularly among young riders.
The Orange County DA’s Office says children ages 11 to 14 account for nearly 62% of e-motorcycle crashes, even though California law prohibits anyone under 16 from operating an electric motorcycle.
The distinction between an e-bike and an e-motorcycle is important. California law considers factors including motor power, speed and whether the vehicle has operable pedals. A vehicle exceeding the legal e-bike specifications may fall into a different category, bringing additional requirements for registration, insurance, licensing and equipment.
Parents Could Face Liability
For families, the issue goes beyond traffic citations.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has begun prosecuting parents in cases involving children who illegally operate e-motorcycles. Officials say four parents have faced child-endangerment charges since January.
The cases also raise an important civil liability question: when a parent knowingly allows a child to operate an illegal or dangerous electric motorcycle, could that decision expose the parent to financial responsibility if someone is injured or killed?
Parents aren’t the only ones who could potentially face liability. Depending on the circumstances of a crash, responsibility could involve a negligent driver, a vehicle owner, a retailer, a manufacturer, or someone who modified the vehicle.
What Riders and Parents Need to Know
Not every electric two-wheeler is legally the same. Riders and parents should know exactly what they are buying, how fast it can travel, whether it has been modified, and what California law requires.
For anyone injured in an e-bike or e-motorcycle collision, determining who is legally responsible can be complicated. Evidence about the vehicle, modifications, warnings, maintenance, insurance and the actions of other drivers may all become important.
As these vehicles become more common, understanding liability may be just as important as understanding the rules of the road.
Got Legal Questions? Get Answers: 1-800-208-3538
When it matters most, trust Attorney James Johnson at Johnson Attorneys Group. We are a personal injury law firm serving clients who have been injured throughout California due to negligent motorists. If you were hurt in this collision, call 1-(800) 208-3538. We will request the police report, and the attorney will discuss your options. You are under no obligation to hire us, and there is no cost unless we win your case. Our personal injury law firm is a proud, longtime supporter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
