"I left my ID at home" does not mean it is "difficult or impossible to obtain ID".
"I haven't gotten around to renewing my ID" does not mean it is "difficult or impossible to obtain ID".
"The name on my ID doesn't match the name on the document" does not mean it is "difficult or impossible to obtain ID".
"Difficult or impossible to obtain ID" means people in nursing homes who physically can not get to a DMV; people who can not obtain proper ID due to citizenship status; people who have never had an ID and can not get one because of external circumstances that legally prevent them from obtaining one.
The man you mention HAS an ID, just one that isn't valid. That is HIS problem, not the notary's problem - and I would not have hesitated to refused the notarization - CWs or not.
California notaries - on this forum and elsewhere - consistently amaze me at how loosely Credible Witnesses are used. It is a shame that the SOS is of the position that California's have no responsibility whatsoever except verifying that the signature on the document matches the signature on an ID...
We are the final step before fraud is committed. Shame on California for trying to make its notaries forget their main purpose as public officials. We are not signature guarantee-ers, we are public servants who are responsible for making sure that a document is signed voluntarily by the authorized person, and, if applicable, that the document was sworn to according to law.
My not-so-humble opinion. |
