§456-20 - Failure to verify identity and signature. - Hawaii Statutes

     [§456-20]  Failure to verify identity and signature.  (a)  A person commits the offense of failure to verify identity and signature if the person is a commissioned notary public and knowingly notarizes a document and:

     (1)  If a witness to the signing of the instrument, fails to verify the identity of the signer by personally knowing the signer or by comparing the personal appearance of the signer with satisfactory proof of the signer's identity; or

     (2)  If not a witness to the signing of the instrument, fails to verify the identity of the signer by personally knowing the signer or by comparing the personal appearance of the signer with satisfactory proof of the signer's identity; or fails to verify the signature of the signer by recognizing the signature of the signer by personal familiarity with the signature, or by comparing the signature with satisfactory proof of the signer's signature.

     (b)  Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced in accordance with chapter 706.

     (c)  A conviction under this section shall result in the automatic revocation of the notary public's commission. [L 2008, c 175, pt of §2]