Showing to police only a copy of a document with a cross on it reading &quot;not associable with any utility or profile of any entity&quot;
<p>In Italy, if I am asked by police for an ID or driving license, would it be lawful to give them a copy of the document (ID or driving licence) crossed and written over with &quot;not usable for utility opening, subscription or any kind of profile&quot;?</p>
<p>I'm asking because a series of events and power abuses towards me made me think to take these extra-precautions, and I fear my IDs might be taken picture of with one excuse or another and used to open any account or utility of any sort and facing the consequences afterwards.</p>

<p>Official identity documents have <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_printing" rel="noreferrer">security features</a> that would be missing from a copy. When a government agency is entitled to check your documents, they are also entitled to check the security features of your documents.</p>
<p>Think about it -- if <strong>you</strong> could get away with handing over a copy, then <strong>someone else</strong> could hand over a photoshopped copy with your name in it.</p>

<p>No, you must give the police the original documents.</p>
<p>Photocopies are allowed only for the car registration certificate, and only in very specific cases (road code, article 180, paragraph 4):</p>
<p>&quot;Per i rimorchi e i semirimorchi di massa complessiva a pieno carico superiore a 3,5 t, per i veicoli adibiti a servizio pubblico di trasporto di persone e per quelli adibiti a locazione senza conducente, ovvero con facoltà di acquisto in leasing, la carta di circolazione può essere sostituita da fotocopia autenticata dallo stesso proprietario con sottoscrizione del medesimo.&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;For trailers and semi-trailers with a total mass at full load exceeding 3.5 t, for vehicles used for public transport of persons and for those used for renting without a driver, or with the option of leasing purchase, the registration certificate can be replaced by a photocopy authenticated by the same owner with signature of the same.&quot;</p>
<p>The Italian traffic police answered <a href="https://www.poliziamunicipale.it/forum/discussione/4431/fotocopie-documenti" rel="noreferrer">the same question</a> in their official website.</p>

<p>Legaly, an ID (or passport, drivers licence etc.) is, in most countries, the <strong>property</strong> of the government that issued it.</p>
<p>Domestic laws states who and under what conditions these documents must be shown to the (in legal terms)  <em>representatives of the owner</em>.</p>
<p>To put it bluntly: it is not for you to determine under what conditions a document, that <strong>doesn't</strong> belong to you, is to be used.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>What would I do if one of the unfortunate circumstances stated in the question come to occur?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Do what the domestic laws says that you are required to do.</p>
<p>For any misuse, charges must be made against the person that commited that misuse.</p>

identification italy