The fine print about Micro Dotting

My first impression after hearing about Micro Dotting is that, whilst a good idea, I did not believe it would work. In theory it seems a good mechanism to trace components of a stolen vehicle, but I don’t believe it viable in practice, especially when it

In the Gazette 35130, 9 March 2012, Micro Dotting was made compulsory for all new vehicles and those requiring police clearance. Here’s an overview of the practicalities and impact on the Commercial Vehicle industry.

Firstly, these are the costs of having a vehicle Micro Dotted, after much research I could not find the cost for a commercial vehicle.
· Motor vehicles R550 a unit

· Trailers R500 a unit

· Motorcycles R450 a unit

Secondly, the following questions come to mind, and the list is not exhaustive,
· As we are dealing with stolen vehicles and theft, why are private companies doing the micro dotting? Even though HCV are the biggest advocates of SMEs (being a small business ourselves) and we believe the outsourcing is good for the economy, who is accrediting these suppliers?

· What are the stats for identifying stolen vehicles from Micro Dotting in SA?

· In trucks, things like Cab plates have never been seriously attended to, so will enough traffic police be equipped with “dot microscopes”?

· Is Micro Dotting going to stand up to sand blasting? If we sand blast chassis and trailer rails, will Micro Dotting remain intact on the surface? I doubt it.

· Will Micro Dotting be transparent and visible through a nice big- double- coating- sprayed- trailer where Micro Dotting has been painted over?


It is my opinion that this seemingly brilliant idea has not been thoroughly considered and – to date – badly rolled out. The issue has literally driven me dotty.

The worst of it is, the totally bureaucratic, inefficient and in many instances corrupt police clearance process that is already extended has to waste more time, and will now probably be R500 richer “for every pop”. This micro joke is not funny.