Posted by Stamper_WI on 3/25/10 6:24am
Msg #328868

Felon Notary

Check out what this guy was doing when they found him

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/25/montana.killer.found/index.html?hpt=T2

Reply by Robert/FL on 3/25/10 7:01am
Msg #328870

And we can thank the Montana notary division for doing a fine job at screening their applicants!

When I became a Commissioner of Deeds in Florida (a much smaller position than NP in my opinion), I had to undergo a full-scale criminal background check, conducted by the state. That alone took well over a month. I am fairly certain that each of the state's 90 CODs underwent the same check.

However, while we have 420,000+ notaries in Florida, I *know* that they do not do as extensive of a background check. With the ridiculous amount of notaries we have here, they should make the requirements stricter before everyone in the state is a notary.

Reply by Robert/FL on 3/25/10 7:01am
Msg #328871

Sorry, meant the *AZ* notary division is doing fine job n/m

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 3/25/10 8:09am
Msg #328878

No background check in AZ

What would you expect? This is the wild west! LOL!

Reply by Grammyzoom on 3/25/10 8:14am
Msg #328882

Re: Sorry, meant the *AZ* notary division is doing fine job

I saw this story on our local news last night and wasn't a bit surprised. I don't know what kind, if any, of a background check is done here but I can tell you that any idiot can become a notary here in AZ.

No education, no test, just pay your fees and get your commission. The only other state I have been commissioned is California. Back in the early days there you took an open book test in someone's office, if you passed you got your commission. Then things changed and the California notary had to take classes and extensive exams and I am sure they must be doing thorough background checks. I hated sitting through those classes every 4 years but knew it was better than commissioned notaries knowing almost nothing.

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/25/10 8:06am
Msg #328877

The background check for Fl notaries are not good enough.
I had an extensive background check before I was allowed to marry my husband and to come to the US, plus one when he had orders for Germany, I had to go through another clearance.

I would say that there are far too many notaries in Florida, but then the majority of them get their commission because of their job.
I often think the requirements should be stricter.

Reply by MW/VA on 3/25/10 8:21am
Msg #328887

What good would a bgc have done in this case?--he was never caught, so he wasn't a convicted felon.

Reply by Grammyzoom on 3/25/10 8:40am
Msg #328892

You are so right Shoshanna, it really is the Wild West out here still. I love going to places like Buckey and Wickenburg for signings. Many of the areas here are the same as they were 100 years ago. And I still cannot get used to people carrying guns out in the open.

Reply by Notarysigner on 3/25/10 11:46am
Msg #328932

I think the article mentioned he was paroled in 1969. Reading some post states that he was living under an assumed name not his real name, and just maybe he assumed the real notary's ID.