just back

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:34 pm

EMM wrote:Owning a property does NOT make you a resident.
You have to take out full Portuguese residencia which has a lot more implications than just not having to carry your passport with you.

Well, I am not prepared to carry my passport around with me. I carry my driving licence and will worry about not having a passport when the time comes. Bad attitude perhaps, but I am sure it would be far more inconvenient to lose my passport than be told off by the police.

TomUK · Post by **TomUK** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 8:56 pm

Can it be assumed that the paper counterpart to the plastic photo type driving licence is no longer required by anyone?
I have never been asked for it by a car rental company, either in Portugal, Spain or the USA. Travel companies say you will need it, but I never have. A bit strange, as it contains details of any motoring convictions (which don't appear on the plastic one). I have offered it to rental companies, but they don't seem interested. Do the police just check your photo licence, or do they insist on seeing the paper section as well?
From the previous posts, it seems taking your original passport is advisable when out in the car. I know it is important to carry the hire documents.

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:16 pm

I agree with you FMM but be prepared to pay the 90euro fine.

fmm · Post by **fmm** » Wed Aug 24, 2011 10:18 pm

EMM wrote:I agree with you FMM but be prepared to pay the 90euro fine.

to be honest, yes - I'd rather take the chance of being fined the 90 euros!

joeysoap · Post by **joeysoap** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:30 am

DVBRO wrote:Take your Passport, not copy to the Portuguese Post Office. They will copy and certify it for you. Then you keep your Passport in the safe at the Villa and use the certified copy, when required. Cost, if I remember about 12 Euros.

thanks for clarifying that DVBRO,

but I have another for you now, does this certified copy expire with the passport or will it suffice when passport is out of date. I ask because my passport will have to be renewed in the next 6 months and thats fine. but as the requirement to carry a passport for driving is probably only for identification purposes then it should not really matter whether its in date or not, but I suspect that is not the case.

gavinhenson · Post by **gavinhenson** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:38 am

Whoops, have hired a car twice out there in last couple of years and not once did I take my passport with me when out driving

Also slightly concerned about the reports of thefts from cars, but there's nothing that can be done about it I suppose, if they want to get inside your car they will find a way - just make sure nothing is left in the vehicle.

sam · Post by **sam** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:08 am

I was stopped by the police in a road side check - just outside Carvoeiro - earlier this year. They wanted ID and confirmation of car ownership. I had my driving licence - one of the old style, non-photo types and a copy of the rental contract. I thought 'Sh*t' as I did not have my passport. They took them to their car and seemed to be doing some checking, and luckily they were quite happy with the docs. So take a copy of the rental agreement of vehicle registration out with you.

gavinhenson · Post by **gavinhenson** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:09 am

sam wrote:I was stopped by the police in a road side check - just outside Carvoeiro - earlier this year. They wanted ID and confirmation of car ownership. I had my driving licence - one of the old style, non-photo types and a copy of the rental contract. I thought 'Sh*t' as I did not have my passport. They took them to their car and seemed to be doing some checking, and luckily they were quite happy with the docs. So take a copy of the rental agreement of vehicle registration out with you.

good tip, will do

James Faro · Post by **James Faro** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:25 am

While the law is clear that you need a form of ID and your driving licence with you, with so many tourists in the Algarve, the Police must have encountered countless times when the driver has failed to produce the identity document or the drivers licence. I am sure they use their discretion if the driver is compliant and can produce one or the other and as pointed out here the car rental agreement. I assume if you get confrontational with them the you have a real problem. Of course if you can produce no identity at all then you definitely have a problem and no discretion will be exercised.

The Portuguese police I have seen in action when tourists or the locals get abusive. You don't mess with these gentleman and that is the way it should be.

gavinhenson · Post by **gavinhenson** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:40 am

My photocard license is always in my wallet so that's one box ticked, taking the rental agreement also as mentioned by sam is a good one to remember so will definitely be doing that.

James Faro wrote: The Portuguese police I have seen in action when tourists or the locals get abusive. You don't mess with these gentleman and that is the way it should be.

Yes, I only wish police in the UK could be as 'hands on' and Portuguese police are. It's actually quite a detterent knowing that they don't tolerate any nonsense, and actually makes you feel safer, without wishing sound like I'm attacking the UK police, they do a great job under the circumstances.

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:46 am

Yes, I only wish police in the UK could be as 'hands on' and Portuguese police are. It's actually quite a detterent knowing that they don't tolerate any nonsense, and actually makes you feel safer, without wishing sound like I'm attacking the UK police, they do a great job under the circumstances.

Agreed, but from my experience of all types of British bobby, a foreign tourist who has inadvertently commited a minor offence, will be treated with courtesy and leniency. From what I hear, this is not always the case in Portugal.

gavinhenson · Post by **gavinhenson** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:56 am

laserblazer wrote:Agreed, but from my experience of all types of British bobby, a foreign tourist who has inadvertently commited a minor offence, will be treated with courtesy and leniency. From what I hear, this is not always the case in Portugal.

Yes, I suppose that where UK police stand out in that respect, treating everyone fairly without taking nationality, race or gender into account, but sometimes I do wish that they could/would stamp their authority a little harder on the ones who deserve it.

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:57 am

I suspect that the number of CCTV cameras we have is a deterrent to that. If a policeman gets annoyed, it's posted on youtube before his shift has ended!

gavinhenson · Post by **gavinhenson** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:04 am

True, or one of the offenders mates sticking a mobile phone into the policemans face to record everything. If I was a bobby it would take super-restraint not to take the phone from them, throw it on the floor and jump up and down on it several times.

James Faro · Post by **James Faro** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:52 am

During the London riots and elsewhere, if Spanish, Portuguese and Italian police were employed, the duration of the looting would have been dramatically reduced. Also when it comes facing court the louts would have not walked to court but have limped-in or be brought in on stretchers. The only ones complaining will be the thieves and scum that caused the damage. You only get law and order if the Police will use tough measures when needed and the culprits know it.

just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back

Re: just back