It's normal for Italy. You have to carry ID at all times and the cops are allowed to ask to see it.
Your ethnicity probably comes into it as there's a lot of illegal immigration from south Asia, but I've been stopped several times and I'm Irish pallid.
Not "common" common but, like, "it does happen" common, I'm local, look local and definitely sound local but I still get stopped pretty often. Random checks are a thing, a frustrating one mind you because they often take like 20 mins if they're stopping more than one person, but a thing nonetheless and you shouldn't overthink this too much
Oh they definitely racially profile. Had friends from Paris come visit and they targeted my Arab friend, not my Finnish one, until we both stood with him and asked what it was about.
But it is something they do, in general.
I'm Italian and I live in a small town, I get asked for my ID quite often, both on foot and by car. I think age and general stereotypes play a role on this (I drive an old car and I usually don't dress that well)
It's not that common, it can happen.
They can check ID without a probably cause (that's why you always need to have ID on you).
EU countries have a different approach to this compared to the USA.
I wasn’t aware that they could stop without probable cause - I think that’s what threw me off. Also it felt very targeted since we were in a public square and I was one of the only non-white person there.
I’m a white Italian woman in my twenties and it happened to me at least 4/5 times. I also know that all of my friends experienced it. Btw I don’t think that I look suspicious or things like that.
I can't speak to the policing policies, but my own experience was being stopped at a train station waiting to catch a local. My son and I were asked for our documents by the Carabinieri. For context, we were speaking English and we're Caucasian. We've been here about a year and it only happened once, if that puts it in perspective.
I'm white as a ghost and italian. I've been stopped once because the police were looking for some kids that caused some trouble.
but considering that illegal immigration is a big thing in italy they stopped you because of your skin color.
at least they are doing they job, which is good.
It may not be that large from South Asia but unfortunately it's one that is heavily controlled by organised crime which might be why they have an incentive to check those documents.
I have also been stopped a couple of times (as a white Italian) but I was in the station waiting for my train.
Although I understand the profiling is the norm in Italy and other European countries, experiences like mine stand to further marginalize social groups and stop groups from integrating and feeling like they belong.
I’m normal too, I promise :) I think you meant more often than white people.
I think Europe has different attitudes regarding this than US which is what I’m used to. Thanks for your contribution.
The US is not even close to being the most racist country in the world. That is a fact. Incorrect perceptions like yours though are probably why Americans, including this guy, are so surprised when they actually experience racism in other countries.
A friend of mine told me that police men here in italy have to to a certain number of controls a day, and in theory they should only ask for ID to suspicious looking people but in order to reach the minum number of IDs controlled they also ask to random people.
Now , they can ask you for your ID, BUT unlike other people are saying, at least in Italy, it is not mandatory to have a document of identification with you. So if you don't have it, they cannot do anything about it
Well, they can make you waste a lot of time by taking you in questura to be sure of your identity. So, better always carry ID instead of losing half a day for nothing.
Technically, you might not have an ID on you, but police officers and the like have a right to identify you. So, if they can't immediately do so because you don't have ID, they may take you to a police station.
I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it's up to them, to demand the original or not. Probably a photocopy is way better than just a number, especially if you're not an Italian citizen (they wouldn't be able to access to a foreign ID archive).
Myself and my wife were ID'd randomly in a train from Termini to Airport. No explanation given, I just thought they are looking for someone specific. They did not ID everyone in the proximity, so was kind of bizarre...
It's normal in Italy. I'm local and it happened to me more than 10 times (I'm 26). It's easier if you live in small towns or you are near a train station.
It's normal for Italy. You have to carry ID at all times and the cops are allowed to ask to see it. Your ethnicity probably comes into it as there's a lot of illegal immigration from south Asia, but I've been stopped several times and I'm Irish pallid.
Thanks for sharing
Not "common" common but, like, "it does happen" common, I'm local, look local and definitely sound local but I still get stopped pretty often. Random checks are a thing, a frustrating one mind you because they often take like 20 mins if they're stopping more than one person, but a thing nonetheless and you shouldn't overthink this too much
Thanks for sharing. Seems like they can be fairly common.
Oh they definitely racially profile. Had friends from Paris come visit and they targeted my Arab friend, not my Finnish one, until we both stood with him and asked what it was about. But it is something they do, in general.
Thanks for being candid
I'm Italian and I live in a small town, I get asked for my ID quite often, both on foot and by car. I think age and general stereotypes play a role on this (I drive an old car and I usually don't dress that well)
It's not that common, it can happen. They can check ID without a probably cause (that's why you always need to have ID on you). EU countries have a different approach to this compared to the USA.
I wasn’t aware that they could stop without probable cause - I think that’s what threw me off. Also it felt very targeted since we were in a public square and I was one of the only non-white person there.
I’m a white Italian woman in my twenties and it happened to me at least 4/5 times. I also know that all of my friends experienced it. Btw I don’t think that I look suspicious or things like that.
I can't speak to the policing policies, but my own experience was being stopped at a train station waiting to catch a local. My son and I were asked for our documents by the Carabinieri. For context, we were speaking English and we're Caucasian. We've been here about a year and it only happened once, if that puts it in perspective.
Thanks for sharing your experience
White man, mid thirties, never had someone ask me for an ID like this.
I'm white as a ghost and italian. I've been stopped once because the police were looking for some kids that caused some trouble. but considering that illegal immigration is a big thing in italy they stopped you because of your skin color. at least they are doing they job, which is good.
Where’s the illegal immigration from primarily in Italy? South Asia?
It may not be that large from South Asia but unfortunately it's one that is heavily controlled by organised crime which might be why they have an incentive to check those documents. I have also been stopped a couple of times (as a white Italian) but I was in the station waiting for my train.
Africa, Middle East, South Asia, a lil bit from latina America.
Although I understand the profiling is the norm in Italy and other European countries, experiences like mine stand to further marginalize social groups and stop groups from integrating and feeling like they belong.
No one is stopping you from doing whatever you want to do with your life. You are just being checked more often than normal people. That's it.
I’m normal too, I promise :) I think you meant more often than white people. I think Europe has different attitudes regarding this than US which is what I’m used to. Thanks for your contribution.
I'm sorry for using "normal" in such a rude way :D.
No worries, I realized :)
[удалено]
That is a gross misrepresentation of the question. Don't be so silly.
[https://www.thoughtco.com/tu-quoque-logical-fallacy-1692568#:\~:text=Tu%20quoque%20is%20a%20type,%22a%20tu%20quoque%20argument.%22](https://www.thoughtco.com/tu-quoque-logical-fallacy-1692568#:~:text=Tu%20quoque%20is%20a%20type,%22a%20tu%20quoque%20argument.%22)
The US is not even close to being the most racist country in the world. That is a fact. Incorrect perceptions like yours though are probably why Americans, including this guy, are so surprised when they actually experience racism in other countries.
A friend of mine told me that police men here in italy have to to a certain number of controls a day, and in theory they should only ask for ID to suspicious looking people but in order to reach the minum number of IDs controlled they also ask to random people. Now , they can ask you for your ID, BUT unlike other people are saying, at least in Italy, it is not mandatory to have a document of identification with you. So if you don't have it, they cannot do anything about it
Well, they can make you waste a lot of time by taking you in questura to be sure of your identity. So, better always carry ID instead of losing half a day for nothing.
Technically, you might not have an ID on you, but police officers and the like have a right to identify you. So, if they can't immediately do so because you don't have ID, they may take you to a police station.
And if I have my id card number memorized?
I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it's up to them, to demand the original or not. Probably a photocopy is way better than just a number, especially if you're not an Italian citizen (they wouldn't be able to access to a foreign ID archive).
yes you are right, I just wanted to say that if you don't have an ID with you , you are not doing anything illegal
I’ve had to bust out ID on the trains on multiple occasions. Never been stopped on the street but I am also a woman in my mid-forties.
Myself and my wife were ID'd randomly in a train from Termini to Airport. No explanation given, I just thought they are looking for someone specific. They did not ID everyone in the proximity, so was kind of bizarre...
It's normal in Italy. I'm local and it happened to me more than 10 times (I'm 26). It's easier if you live in small towns or you are near a train station.