If you're asking about using Credible Witnesses ... no, you cannot use Credible Witnesses since signer actually does have a government-issued form of identification. From California Notary Handbook, specifically #4:
"B. Oath of a Single Credible Witness – The identity of the signer can be established by
the oath of a single credible witness whom the notary public personally knows (Civil Code
section 1185(b)(1)). The notary public must establish the identity of the credible witness by
the presentation of paper identifcation documents as set forth above. Under oath, the credible
witness must swear or affirm that each of the following is true (Civil Code section 1185(b)(1)
(A)(i)-(v)):
1. The individual appearing before the notary public as the signer of the document is the
person named in the document;
2. The credible witness personally knows the signer;
3. The credible witness reasonably believes that the circumstances of the signer are such that
it would be very difficult or impossible for the signer to obtain another form of identification;
4. The signer does not possess any of the identification documents authorized by law to
establish the signer’s identity; and
5. The credible witness does not have a financial interest and is not named in the
document signed.
Note: The single credible witness must sign the notary public’s journal, or the notary public
must indicate in their journal the type of identifying document, the identifying number of the
document, and the date of issuance or expiration of the document presented by the witness to
establish the identity of the witness. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(D))
C. Oaths of Two Credible Witnesses – The identity of the signer can be established by the
oaths of two credible witnesses whom the notary public does not personally know. The notary
public first must establish the identities of the two credible witnesses by the presentation of
paper identification documents as listed above. Under oath, the credible witnesses must swear
or affirm under penalty of perjury to each of the things sworn to or affirmed by a single credible
witness, as set forth above. (Civil Code sections 1185(b)(2) and 1185(b)(1)(A)(i)-(v))
Note: The credible witnesses must sign the notary public’s journal and the notary public must
indicate in their journal the type of identifying documents, the identifying numbers of the
documents, and the dates of issuance or expiration of the documents presented by the witnesses
to establish their identities. (Government Code section 8206(a)(2)(E))"
Insofar as using the presented ID, also from the same Handbook:
"When completing a certifcate of acknowledgment or a jurat, a notary public is required
to certify to the identity of the signer of the document (Civil Code sections 1185(a), 1189,
Government Code section 8202). Identity is established if the notary public is presented with
satisfactory evidence of the signer’s identity (Civil Code section 1185(a)).
Satisfactory Evidence – “Satisfactory Evidence” means the absence of any information,
evidence, or other circumstances which would lead a reasonable person to believe that the
individual is not the individual they claim to be and (A) identifcation documents or (B) the
oath of a single credible witness or (C) the oaths of two credible witnesses under penalty of
perjury, as specifed below:" (then lists the allowed ID forms.)
If you opt to accept the presented ID, the question becomes how confident are you about the ID is for the same person in front of you? If you're called into court on the matter, would you be willing to swear under oath that you firmly believe the signer and the person in the ID is one in the same?
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