In 2016, the Secretary of the Commonwealth disciplined 39 notaries. Many of these notaries had multiple violations of the Notary Public Law. 

• Thirty-one notaries failed to keep and maintain custody and control of accurate and chronological registers. 
• Ten failed to properly identify their customers through satisfactory evidence or personal knowledge. 
• Six failed to complete the commissioning process by failing to take the oath of office and recording their bonds.

Penalties: 

• Twenty-two notaries were suspended which were stayed in favor of probation. Four notaries were suspended with probation for 18 months. 
• Sixteen notaries permanently and voluntarily surrendered their commissions. 
• Fifteen were assessed $250 each in civil penalties. 
• Seven notaries were assessed $500 each in civil penalties. 
• Nine notaries had to pay probation monitoring fees of $150 each; seven notaries paid $300 each, and three paid $900 each for probation monitoring.
• Twenty-three notaries were required to take notary education courses as part of the disciplinary actions taken against them. 

“The number one sure-fire way as a notary to not be disciplined is to follow Pennsylvania Notary Public Law,” said Brian Dowd, PAN’s manager of marketing, training and customer service. “It’s what we emphasize in our training that helps notaries from being disciplined.”