Pickpocketed getting on train at Rapallo (Italian Riviera)
Jan 27th, 2014, 02:49 PM
#102
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As far as the requirement to carry an official identity document, the IDP is irrelevant, because the driver's license itself is not an official identity document in Italy, for the reason I mentioned above. The IDP is really just a translation of the license, in a standard format, so it adds no validity.
However, it is required when driving in Italy. Rental companies are beginning to request it more frequently, but it has been required for at least the past 17 years or so, probably longer. As Janis says, the rental agencies haven't been very particular in the past about requesting it, but it is needed to drive here unless you have an EU license.
However, it is required when driving in Italy. Rental companies are beginning to request it more frequently, but it has been required for at least the past 17 years or so, probably longer. As Janis says, the rental agencies haven't been very particular in the past about requesting it, but it is needed to drive here unless you have an EU license.
Jan 27th, 2014, 02:57 PM
#103
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 7,608
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Circumstances under which you may be asked to show an identity document in Italy:
You forget to stamp your ticket on the bus, and a ticket inspector catches you red-handed.
A merchant doesn't furnish you a receipt, and the finance police catch the merchant red-handed.
You're involved in some way in a traffic accident.
You witness a crime.
You're stopped for a random document check, either driving or walking.
In the last situation, you should be sure that the person asking to see your ID is really a police officer, because there are some scams that start off like that. You're not required to show them anything other than your ID. If you're asked to show anything else, or if you're not certain the person is a police officer, ask to be accompanied to the police station.
If you don't produce ID, the law in Italy says you can be held at the police station until someone is able to bring your ID there. In reality, I doubt that would happen, but at the very least, it could wreck your plans for the day.
You forget to stamp your ticket on the bus, and a ticket inspector catches you red-handed.
A merchant doesn't furnish you a receipt, and the finance police catch the merchant red-handed.
You're involved in some way in a traffic accident.
You witness a crime.
You're stopped for a random document check, either driving or walking.
In the last situation, you should be sure that the person asking to see your ID is really a police officer, because there are some scams that start off like that. You're not required to show them anything other than your ID. If you're asked to show anything else, or if you're not certain the person is a police officer, ask to be accompanied to the police station.
If you don't produce ID, the law in Italy says you can be held at the police station until someone is able to bring your ID there. In reality, I doubt that would happen, but at the very least, it could wreck your plans for the day.
Jan 28th, 2014, 07:41 AM
#106
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The most hilarious IDP story has to be the law passed in Florida requiring Canadian snowbirds to have an IDP. An English translation of an English language license. The law was later repealed.
https://www.caa.ca/caa-applauds-repe...orida-idp-law/
Georgia, USA fined a Quebec driver for having no IDP as his Quebec license was in French only.
https://www.google.ca/#q=georgia+fines+quebec+driver
While you can often rent a car without an IDP or if stopped, may not be fined etc. at the Police Officer's discretion, it's probably a good idea to have one just in case.
The plural of anecdote is not 'data'. While one person may have no problem another may be hassled and or fined in the same place on a different day.
For example, given the state of the economy in Greece right now, I would think the police could see it as a lucrative source of additonal income that is sorely needed. While in the past, they have not bothered to insist on it.
https://www.caa.ca/caa-applauds-repe...orida-idp-law/
Georgia, USA fined a Quebec driver for having no IDP as his Quebec license was in French only.
https://www.google.ca/#q=georgia+fines+quebec+driver
While you can often rent a car without an IDP or if stopped, may not be fined etc. at the Police Officer's discretion, it's probably a good idea to have one just in case.
The plural of anecdote is not 'data'. While one person may have no problem another may be hassled and or fined in the same place on a different day.
For example, given the state of the economy in Greece right now, I would think the police could see it as a lucrative source of additonal income that is sorely needed. While in the past, they have not bothered to insist on it.
Jan 28th, 2014, 07:52 AM
#107
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was once stopped at a random 'spot check' by police in Greece. I was driving a vehicle for which I had a Greek registration in my name; had an expired Canadian driving license; an expired IDP and expired insurance papers!
I should add, the insurance was expired simply because I thought the insurance company would notify me by mail (as they do in Canada) before it expired. In fact they do not, it is up to you to go to them and renew it. But I knew the others were expired.
Anyway, the Police Officer looked at all this and then said to me, 'Your insurance is expired you know.' Then he said, 'what would happen if you did this in Canada' and I answered, 'I'd be in big trouble'. Then he smiled and said, 'go get your insurance renewed today Mr. X' and sent me on my way.
No fine, no arrest, no impounding the vehicle, nothing. That was his Greek pride showing me how much better it was to live in Greece rather than in Canada. LOL
I should add, the insurance was expired simply because I thought the insurance company would notify me by mail (as they do in Canada) before it expired. In fact they do not, it is up to you to go to them and renew it. But I knew the others were expired.
Anyway, the Police Officer looked at all this and then said to me, 'Your insurance is expired you know.' Then he said, 'what would happen if you did this in Canada' and I answered, 'I'd be in big trouble'. Then he smiled and said, 'go get your insurance renewed today Mr. X' and sent me on my way.
No fine, no arrest, no impounding the vehicle, nothing. That was his Greek pride showing me how much better it was to live in Greece rather than in Canada. LOL
Jan 28th, 2014, 09:00 AM
#108
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 938
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"We have found what we hope is a solution for where to carry our passports when we are checking out of one hotel and into another. We are putting in our luggage."
That's similar to what I do. But I put it into an envelope at the bottom of my day-pack since I can't always keep an eye on my suitcase. The same with excess cash and credit cards which I keep in a different envelope so that I don't need to take them out when I use the passport for the check in.
That's similar to what I do. But I put it into an envelope at the bottom of my day-pack since I can't always keep an eye on my suitcase. The same with excess cash and credit cards which I keep in a different envelope so that I don't need to take them out when I use the passport for the check in.
Jan 31st, 2014, 10:26 AM
#109
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,445
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm still going to take the chance and carry a copy of my passport because IMO the costs resulting from loss of my passport divided by the risk of losing it while on the street greatly outweigh the costs of being jailed for not having my original passport divided by the risk of having some policeman insist on the original and not allowing me to retrieve it from the hotel.
However the advice on the IDP is good. We sometimes get them, sometimes not. Guess we'll get them for our next trip. However, I've never been asked for it even though I've been stopped.
I do have a good "hangdog look" I use whenever caught out by the authorities.
However the advice on the IDP is good. We sometimes get them, sometimes not. Guess we'll get them for our next trip. However, I've never been asked for it even though I've been stopped.
I do have a good "hangdog look" I use whenever caught out by the authorities.
