From 1 September this year, all motor vehicles registered for the first time will need to be fitted with microdots that comply with the requirements of the National Road Traffic Act. Microdots are tiny metallic discs that have a unique code inscribed in them and can be read using a microscope.

Furthermore, all motor vehicles requiring SA Police Service vehicle clearance must be fitted with microdots as of this month.

“The pervasive and enduring nature of microdot technology allows the marking of many motor vehicle components and parts. This means that the police can now identify parts from stolen vehicles even if the vehicle has been ‘chopped up’ for the illegal spare parts market,” says Business Against Crime CEO Graham Wright.

Microdot technology works through the application of thousands of small polymeric or metallic discs, which are generally 1mm or smaller in diameter, each of which carries a unique number, like a vehicle identification number.

The microdot discs are typically applied in various locations of a vehicle through handheld, low-pressure spray systems, together with a suitable adhesive. Once applied, the microdots are extremely difficult to remove, making them ideally suited to preserving the original identity of a motor vehicle and its parts.

To confirm a vehicle’s identity, a sample of the material is extracted and subjected to observation through a low-powered microscope. These microscopes have already been distributed to the police. — Staff reporter, TechCentral