Important purpose of car windscreen black dots

Amotoring expert has revealed what black dots on car windscreens mean. It turns out they actually have a very important purpose. So do you know what they mean?

Awindscreen repair expert has revealed why car windshield have small dots around them - and according to reports, it is a little-known reason. It seems that while the marks are always present, many motorists know little about them.

Some drivers have even gone years without even noticing them let alone knowing what they are for. However, one curious person took to Reddit to ask fellow users why the dots were there, saying simply: "What are those little black dots that surround my windshield for?"

It turns out they actually have a very important purpose. The Mirror reported that without them, driving would be extremely dangerous.

Confirming the purpose, a statement on Autoglaze reads: "The black dots, or dot matrix, actually help distribute temperature evenly to lessen optical distortion or lensing. This happens when the frit band (the solid black one) heats up much faster than the windscreen's glass, creating an optical distortion that makes either straight lines look curved or bowed inwards toward the centre.

Those 'gradually sinking' black dots help lessen this phenomenon by dissipating the heat and spreading it out evenly."

And there is another reason they are there, it seems. According to the report, they also help "preserve the urethane sealant used to bond the glass to the frame", meaning your windscreen stays firmly glued in to place.

The statement adds: "They serve as a contact point between the glass and car frame. They create etches on the surface, making them rougher so the adhesive can stick better to the glass.

"Frits are also there for aesthetic purposes. If you look closely, the contrast between the dark band and the transparent glass can look too obvious even when viewed from afar.

"Creating a halftone pattern or dot-matrix allows a gradual decrease in size, making the transition much more subtle and easier on the eyes." Commenting on the revelation, one Reddit user said: "That is brilliant and simple. So simple that it isn't believable but so believable that it can't be that simple!"

Another user added: "OK, that makes sense. But why is it on the windshield, rear windshield, and quarter glass, but not on the operable windows?" Athird user said: "I am stunned at the amount that I have learned about frit today."

This week, following a visit to the National Police office in Torrevieja, the Oficina de Documentación, The Leader sat down with Gitte Lund Thomsen, the Councillor for International Residents, to discuss the importance of both the padrón, and residencia.

This week, we will talk about the padrón, and next week, residencia.

It is important to note that we are talking specifically about Torrevieja, and whereas many of the rules and procedures apply nationally, local functions can differ from town hall to town hall, so it is important you check with your own local office.

Firstly, it is crucial that all residents are registered on the Municipal Register, most commonly known as the padrón, as proof of this is necessary for so many administrative functions, such as registration or renewal of education or health services, functions attached to social security, some vehicle administrative procedures, and residencia and TIE, amongst others.

In order to be registered on the padrón, you need to apply at the town hall. Once issued, a padrón certificate is normally only valid for 3 months, after which, if you need to present it again, you will have to return to the town hall.

The good news for Torrevieja residents is that this can now be done automatically online, and very quickly, avoiding the need to physically present yourself at the office. However, we must stress that the three-monthly renewal is ONLY necessary if you need the document to present at an administration, otherwise, you do not need to renew it every 3 months.

That said, every 5 years, your status on the register MUST be renewed, so you will have to present yourself and your documentation to do this. Some residents have lost their status on the padrón, without even realising. If you receive a letter from the town hall, you must act on the instructions they send to you in order to renew your status.

One other key point about being on the padrón, which has only changed recently, is that you must be a resident, or about to become a resident. If you own a holiday home, for example, you no longer qualify. You do not have to own the property however, you can be registered if you are renting.

If you are planning to leave the country, you must deregister yourself from the padrón, and then your residencia. The padrón can be cancelled at the town hall, and residencia at the National Police office in Torrevieja.

Gitte concludes by pointing out that her department exists for the benefit of international residents, and if you need help or advice, you can contact them. Of course, they cannot influence your application for residencia, for example, or speed up the appointment process, but they can help guide you in the right direction.

The International Residents Department in Torrevieja can attend to residents in English, as well as French, German, Scandinavian, Russian, Bulgarian, and, of course, Spanish.

You can email them direct, at pangea@torrevieja.es, and you can make an appointment to visit them in person via the website, torrevieja.es, where you should look for the Residentes Internacionales Oficina Pangea. You can also visit them in La Mata town hall, or the office in La Siesta, calle Paganini, again, by appointment.

Finally, on Thursday, the Councillor for International Residents will be joining the N332 Road Safety group when they give a talk to local residents in Dominos Bar in Punta Prima.

Everyone is welcome to the talk about changes to traffic law in Spain, and you can speak to Gitte after that. The talk starts at 4 p.m.

Police Warning To Pirate Taxis

Elche Local Police say that they are continually clamping down on so-called “pirate” taxis who are using AlicanteElche Airport.

The law states that it is illegal to carry passengers in exchange for money, unless the vehicle is licenced as a taxi or VTC vehicle. Even taking a “friend” to the airport for money is not allowed, even if that money is “just towards petrol”, for example, and the “friends” excuse is frequently used. Hefty fines are regularly awarded with the vehicle, inevitably, being immobilised.

Pure vandalism is how some have described the unfortunate image captured and shared on the MeteOrihuela Twitter account recently. The video, which quickly went viral, showed a pair of electric scooters "stranded" in the Segura riverbed in Orihuela, close to the Levante bridge. The colour of both means they are likely belong to a private electric scooter rental company, which suggests that it could be an act of vandalism..

Orihuela Costa park maintenance co claims e2 million

The company,Actúa,which has provided the park maintenance service without a contract for six years,is demanding that the Orihuela council pays it’s outstanding invoices.

It has sent the City Council two letters in which it claims the local administration owe an amount close to 2 million euros for unpaid bills,late payment interest and cost overruns.This situation is causing serious economic damage,the documents state.

Freemasons Support For Murcia Foodbanks

Nearly 30,000 people depend on the food banks for their daily needs in Murcia, and their number is increasing with 850,000 kilograms of basic foodstuffs distributed in the last 5 months, an increase of nearly 40% on the amount used last year. Murcia is also the home for 145 freemasons spread over 6 Lodges, and the Provincial Grand Master, Terence Pierce, has opened an initiative with Luz de Murcia Lodge #91, who meet in Los Alcazares, donating 1,000e worth of food and grocery items to assist the town’s social services.