Posted by rrobles on 5/30/06 10:53am
Msg #123049

New Notary Question on fingerprinting

I've noticed in researching around the web that some notaries offer fingerprinting services. I don't remember reading anything of the sort in my state's handbook (Maryland) on this.

Is this just a duty a notary can perform unofficially?

Are there any laws governing this that I need to be aware of?

Of course the big question, Any training available somewhere?

Thanks,
rrobles

Reply by Albert E Thomka on 5/30/06 11:11am
Msg #123051

I've been doing fingerprinting for over 10 years and it does not require any testing. I bought all my fingerprint equipment from the National Notary Association and then went over to my local Los Angeles Police Station and had a police officer train me on how to do fingerprinting that would me acceptable guidelines for the FBI. Mostly now there is computer electronic finger printing services so the old way of using ink is not in much demand. When I lived in California I use to to the finger printing of all security guards for about 5 different security companies and finger prints had to be taken of all employees of the security company everyt year and I usually collected $10 per each employee fingerprinted.

Reply by Joe Ewing on 5/30/06 11:38am
Msg #123053

Touching strangers sweaty hands. Staying focused on not swearing. Don't fight me. Just relax. I f I smear one finger I'll have to start over. What only one card? Damn! All this for $10?

Sound familiar Albert?

I've been doing fingerprinting for over 7 years and it does not require any training. I bought all my fingerprint "machine" from the National Notary Association. "Live Scan" computer electronic finger printing was enacted in California in 2001 so rolling prints with ink is not in much demand anymore. I still have a few clients but I don't advertise.

I should warn you that there are no "DO OVERS". Clients expect you to be skilled and knowledgeable because a rejected card can hold up the process that the fingerprint cards are submitted for. The last thing you want is for someone to not receive clearance because of your inexperience. Therefore you must practice with at least 100 strangers before you can "sell" you skills.

Reply by davidK on 5/30/06 1:36pm
Msg #123069

California fingerprinting

According to the California Attorney General:

California law requires any individual who rolls fingerprints manually or electronically for licensure, certification and/or employment purposes to be certified by the state Department of Justice (Penal Code section 11102.1). A certified fingerprint roller must begin using his/her certification number as soon as it is received.

Exceptions to the mandatory certification requirement are made for law enforcement personnel and state employees who have received training for applicant fingerprint rolling and have undergone a Criminal Offender Record Information background investigation.

Reply by Gerry_VT on 5/30/06 7:10pm
Msg #123104

I'm writing from the perspective of someone who had to be fingerprinted to get a teaching job. Being a fingerprinter is different from being a notary, because a notarized document is equally acceptable no matter which notary did the notarization. On the other hand, the agency receiving a fingerprint decides which fingerprinters they will accept, and which ones they won't. Who is acceptable can vary from agency to agency.