There’s been a lot of chatter recently about being ID’ed in the two main tourist parks – San Francisco and Calderon – here in Cuenca – by the “police” while walking around.
So, I asked my wife and my son, both Cuencanos, about this. They said you are not obligated to ID yourself to anyone. The exception is if you are driving and stopped by the police and/or military at check points or are stopped by the transit police for an infraction. That’s it folks. Never pull out your ID – cedula or passport – and hand it over. My son said if it happened to him he would tell them to kick rocks.
Both of these tourist parks are frequented by the ladrones (thieves) and scammers. These “police” are definitely the latter, especially with them taking pictures of your ID. You can count on them taking your ID to forge fake IDs for some nefarious deed.
Another tip for you all. Carry a copy of your cedula with you at all times. If you lose it or have it stolen, no big deal. You should have your original cedula with you when you do banking, municipal, hospital, or other government business. My daughter lost hers and it took her months to get an appointment with the Registar Civil to get a new one. The best place I found to make laminated copies is on the corner of B. Malo and Sucre, the Zerox copy store. Costs a couple of dollars and they do a great job. The only way I can tell the difference is the hologram on the original.
Been here for 13 years and I have never been asked to ID myself except at the banks and government offices. Just say no. Maybe ask them for their cedula and / or name and get on the phone so as to verify their status as cops. Bet you they’ll disappear faster than an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day.
Edwin
City: Cuenca
So, I asked my wife and my son, both Cuencanos, about this. They said you are not obligated to ID yourself to anyone. The exception is if you are driving and stopped by the police and/or military at check points or are stopped by the transit police for an infraction. That’s it folks. Never pull out your ID – cedula or passport – and hand it over. My son said if it happened to him he would tell them to kick rocks.
Both of these tourist parks are frequented by the ladrones (thieves) and scammers. These “police” are definitely the latter, especially with them taking pictures of your ID. You can count on them taking your ID to forge fake IDs for some nefarious deed.
Another tip for you all. Carry a copy of your cedula with you at all times. If you lose it or have it stolen, no big deal. You should have your original cedula with you when you do banking, municipal, hospital, or other government business. My daughter lost hers and it took her months to get an appointment with the Registar Civil to get a new one. The best place I found to make laminated copies is on the corner of B. Malo and Sucre, the Zerox copy store. Costs a couple of dollars and they do a great job. The only way I can tell the difference is the hologram on the original.
Been here for 13 years and I have never been asked to ID myself except at the banks and government offices. Just say no. Maybe ask them for their cedula and / or name and get on the phone so as to verify their status as cops. Bet you they’ll disappear faster than an ice cream cone on a hot summer’s day.
Edwin
City: Cuenca
