Communication Breakdown
Communications from the world of, er, communications. And other stuff.
Comments on this post
In Spain, it is compulsory in theory to always have your ID card with you in the street. Unlike in the UK carrying one is not perceived as an infringement of liberty. What people do is either not bother, and if in the remote chance of a police officer demanding to see it, you just say you've just lost it today and that's it, no problem or do what Spanish law allows you to do to avoid loss of the original, which is carry a photocopy, although that is no use if you need to collect a "certificado" from a post office. For any kind of transaction like that you obviously need the original or a passport. But that's the same in the UK isn't it?
As a Brit in Spain, I think the Spanish have got it about right. I personally can't see any problem carrying one - sometimes it can be very convenient. But it should not be a finable "offence" to not have one on you. That's absurd - if you change your clothes quickly for example, it's an item easily forgotten. I'm not surprised Harrison is being a bit cagey because British law is not as "flexible" as e.g. Spanish law, and if the British Government does make it an "offence" to not have one on you, albeit only when using public services, it's going to be a touchy subject.
