Motorcycle VIN etching Tuesday, October 02, 2007 (15:04:12) This article contributed by boogie State Trooper Rick Garletts unloads a motorcycle police recovered from a northern Virginia chop shop. It's a demonstrator he uses as he tours the state with a new tool in crime prevention. Vin etching -- or imprinting the vehicle identification number has been around for years on cars -- but only months for motorcycles. The etching system works with a laser and special tape also used by the military to permanently ID aircraft parts. When crooks see the number on the motorcycle they will most likely move on. If a cycle thief removes the tape, it won't matter as the tape leaves an invisible mark behind. Garletts: 'The sticker can be removed, and we can take an alternate light source and shine it on the bike and read the number itself." But there's more... Police supply what they call "data dots" that can be hidden all over the bike. They also make special decals that mimic the ones that came on the bike. "That is a sticker we manufactured with the laser system and as you can see it says Honda Genuine parts on it...There is VIN #'s engraved in that sticker itself. " It won't always deter the criminals -- but if the bike is stolen for parts police can track the case more easily. "Most of the time unfortunately they get to a chop shop and they get tore down so if we discover the chop shop this system allows us -- even if the sticker has been removed, we can look at the parts and trace back where we need to go to find the offender." The service is free and it takes 5-7 minutes to make a set of stickers. State Police along with Roanoke Police are doing VIN etching in the Target parking lot at Valley View Mall on Saturday September 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. The service is free of cost. Source: WSLS News Content received from: Brain Bucket Magazine, http://brainbucketmag.com