Originally Posted by
FlyingHoustonian
In Italia this is required and is the law. If you are staying with locals you eventually have to report yourself. B/B, Agris, and hotels do it for you.
You must present passport or ID card at check-in.
Whether they keep it or not depends. Some have large weighted keys which you hand in when leaving the hotel and get your passport/id back. Others scan it/record the info for police then give it back.
Ciao,
FH
I don't really have a problem with someone copying the information on the passport, it's actually leaving it in their possession that is an issue for me. I'd have that same issue with my driver's license, my credit cards, my license to carry firearms, and anything else in my wallet.
I guess I'll stay out of Italy, because giving up the only form of ID that I can use to get home so that it can be kept by someone else out of my sight is not something I'm willing to do.