Posted by BrendaTx on 4/3/11 9:58pm
Msg #378450

Virginia HB 2318 / Section 47 Changes

First of all, I owe the intelligent, brilliant and ever popular Renee' K from Michigan a big apology.

I combed through the changes to Virginia's electronic notary law with a fine tooth comb today.

I get it, Renee'...finally, I get it. There are only 3 ways that a video notarization can be done.

Personal knowledge, and two other methods of ID that are so sophisticated that only FBI and CIA employees are prepared to participate at this time. Those two methods require biometric identifiers and all kinds of digital key pairing, cross-certifying, public key infrastructure, and other big words and terms.

I love it. If only all states would take this route, we would be golden.

Virginia’s precise electronic notary law update assures that the idea that webcam notarizations can be obtained while lounging in one’s pajamas at home does not get a toehold with the American public. Smart work.

Viriginia, I salute you.

Reply by Lee/AR on 4/3/11 10:14pm
Msg #378452

Agreed. Now, if somebody could just explain this-- using little words--to that site that is acting like the VA law just high-fived them... What a piece of work they are!

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/4/11 7:21am
Msg #378471

Lee - I agree...they are very 'out there'

on their perception of what the new law means.

Reply by James Dawson on 4/4/11 9:00am
Msg #378479

agree Lee and Brenda something simple like Y or N n/m

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 4/4/11 6:16am
Msg #378469

lol - welcome to the dark side!

Never any apologies - but whew, the "am I crazy?" debate with myself was definitely starting to lean too far to one side!

As you KNOW NOW - I so totally agree, VA did one heck of a job and (I suspect) in the nick of time. I've long suspected there might be entities just looking for some precedence, and now that precedence is nailed-down.

You know, this is the system used to secure entry into such high-risk places as nuclear plants. Forgive me but I do NOT feel more secure imagining a notary public sitting at the door checking ID's, regardless of 'live/in-person" as opposed to these standards actually being used (though I do not delude myself with those, either). 100% risk-free just does not exist, but it sure is a great goal!

Reply by MW/VA on 4/4/11 7:49am
Msg #378475

Thanks Renee & Brenda for the clarification on this. I

agree that the purpose of this law is not to open the doors for companies trying to get the jump on a new internet business. There have been many people, including those on the forum, that have had a knee-jerk reaction to the legislation. Again, I see no application for anything having to do with the loan signing biz or any sort of national notarization application.

Reply by FlaNotary2 on 4/4/11 8:58am
Msg #378478

And what I see is a lot of notaries having the person

hold up their ID on webcam and then considering them to be "personally known". I doubt any notaries will invest in the advanced technology required to achieve satisfactory evidence.

I don't care how advanced it may be... if it comes to Florida (and hopefully it does not) I will not be participating and will protest outside the state legislature while they attempt to pass it.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 4/4/11 10:35am
Msg #378487

Thank you for the update, Brenda! n/m

Reply by LisaWI on 4/4/11 11:00am
Msg #378490

Ok, thats good news. Now can someone give me an instance where this would actually be used or for what purpose??

And am I understanding this correctly, that its not meant for the 'regular' notaries but the purposes of this technology is intended for individuals who are specially trained for specific purposes??

Does that make sense, lol. Bear with me, Im still trying to figure out exactly why they are implementing this procedure and why they find it so important to make it a law.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 4/4/11 3:41pm
Msg #378553

I don't know if this is accurate or not, but an analogy that comes to mind for me is the case of certain frequent fliers who have gone after that electronic passport (or whatever it's called) so that they can short-cut the check-in process at airports.

If a "frequent notary user" goes to the trouble of going through an extensive pre-screening process and having the results recorded on an electronic ID card with biometrics that are far more difficult to falsify, and if that card can then be read electronically (perhaps also with a thumbprint reader and/or iris scanner, etc.), I agree that that would be a superior form of identifying a person than what any notary could do - in person or otherwise.

There may be some applications for federal government workers (many of whom are located in VA) who have a high volume need that could save lots of time and (taxpayer) money.

Who knows... that may be the future someday, as technology makes complicated things easier and easier - and more and more accessible from a cost standpoint. And apparently since current laws don't have any provisions for this type of process, a change is required. It gives me a whole new perspective on the VA bill. And if I'm understanding this correctly, I agree that what Notary Now is doing doesn't even come close.

BTW, I want to add my thanks to all of you who have helped to keep us informed on this important issue. Beats any info coming from XYZ, hands down!!

Reply by BrendaTx on 4/4/11 6:00pm
Msg #378590

Right, Janet...that and

Employees in a gov. agency...I am an employee in a quasi-govt agency...large parent system. I wish with all my heart I could notarize many of the docs via video conferencing.

I am notarizing for 15 signers documents at work on Wed....at once. It will be madness. It would be so much better if their agency badges and my computer could talk. It would save an hour plus of my time and a lot of frustration for each of them...and they are all researchers from the Middle East. I can't wait to see what forms of ID they bring to me.

In anticipation of that I am whipping up a stack of oath by credit witness forms. A person I know/work with is bringing them all to me. He will get to swear to a lot of identity on Wed.

If we had video conferencing laws like Va. the researchers would have biometric digital cards to swipe into a system and I could verify it at my computer.

To me, those are the kinds of things that Va. will be doing. Believe me, they've got a plan for this...it is going to streamline something.