Apparantly you must carry some form of ID
It is unclear to me at the moment exactly what form that takes if a photo-copy will do or if it need to be the actual passport. Am sure someone else will clear this up

If you were a resident of Spain, you would have your residentia card with you at all times which gives the police all the information they need.

As we are not, it is vital to have ID with you, especially your passport. I only found out recently after getting a big telling off from my lawyer that when you drive in Spain, you always have to have all your car documents with you and your passport and driving license. I nearly crashed into a Police car ( oops!!!) and the scene that followed was not nice!! At least my lawyers heart is beating regular again now!!!

I also learnt some very nice Spanish words

Don't know if this is legal but I scanned the photograph pages of our passports then reduced them to credit card size and laminated them. This saves carrying the passports around all the time. They have been accepted as ID many times when secondary ID has been requested with credit card purchases.

I scanned the photo page and the page where you write the names of contacts in case of an emergency.
I then stuck these together back to back and had it laminated.

I have carried this around for years in Spain and it has always been accepted, without any problem....even for changing money.
the passport stays safely in the safe.

besos xxx
sanji

These sound like great ideas and i will try this with all documents as i do not like to carry my passport/ driving license with me at all times.

what about the photo id driving licence..that any good?

Hi, I one thing they will have no problems with is a copy of your passport, but it must be stamped by the town hall,take your passport and the copy with you.you can use it any were. try to get it lamenated (spelt incorrectly) it will last for a long time.

Stan is correct in saying that copies should be certified, but in practice uncertified ones may or may not be accepted.
Photo ID of some sort is a must. They don't check signatures here, but do check to see if you match your photo. Having had my passport stolen 2 days before I needed to return to the UK for a funeral, I would not recommend using a passport! A driving license( with photo) is acceptable when using credit cards.
If you are driving, you really do need to have your license and all other documents in the car in case you are stopped. If you are living here and don't have everything to hand , it means a trip to Traffico in Malaga and a fine. If you are a tourist, I think they will probably let you go with a telling off, but they can keep you hanging around for quite a while, so it's best to have everything in order.

Is this something new?.I have been to Spain and all her islands many times and never carried any ID.

I have also never heard of this, I have never carried i.d around either. Is it all of spain?

yeah..i only knew about it after watching COSTA DEL CRIME on bravo....

Yes, It's all of Spain. I'm surprised you have never been asked for ID when paying by credid/debit card!

I never take credit/debit cards abroad,maybe thats why I have never been asked for ID.

I always have to show my passport when exchanging travellers cheques, but never thought you had to carry id.