Microdot technology has long been touted as the ultimate answer to South Africa's vehicle crime problem, but with the technology only having been taken up by a handful of manufacturers, it has not yet reaped its full potential.
This, thankfully, could be set to change from 1 September this year when the law will require that all vehicles registered for the first time will have to be fitted with mircodots.
These are small polymeric or metallic discs that are inscribed with the Vehicle Identification Number and are literally scattered all over the vehicle, which now has a 'DNA trace' that crooks will find virtually impossible to get rid of.
Police can then extract the data, at a road block for instance, through a low-powered microscope.
Graham Wright, chief executive of Business Against Crime SA, said: “The application of microdot technology to all motor vehicles will strengthen the police's ability to identify stolen or hijacked vehicles.”
“These regulatory changes follow more than a decade of consistent and sustained effort by Bacsa and various parties within government and business to secure the identity of all motor vehicles.”
Source: Sapa