Notary Notes Blog

The latest notary news for Pennsylvania notaries

PAN

PennDOT Extends Expiration Dates on CDLs, CD Learner’s Permits, and Hazardous Materials Endorsements

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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on August 31, 2020 that in response to statewide COVID-19 mitigation efforts, expiration dates for commercial driver licenses and commercial learner’s permits will be extended for Pennsylvania residents through September 30, 2020.

Please note: Expiration extension deadlines on non-commercial driver license, photo identification cards, learner’s permits and camera cards have expired as of August 31, 2020.

 Effective August 31, the following products’ expiration dates will be extended:

  • Commercial learner’s permits scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020, through September 30, 2020;
  • Commercial driver licenses scheduled to expire from March 16, 2020, through September 30, 2020; and
  • Hazardous Materials Endorsements (HME) for individuals who are a Pennsylvania-licensed commercial driver’s license holder and who held a valid, unexpired HME with a determination of no security threat on or after March 6, 2020.

For a list of open driver license and photo license centers and the services provided, as well as their hours of operation, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov.

Customers may continue to complete various transactions and access multiple resources online at www.dmv.pa.gov. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; and schedule a driver’s exam. There are no additional fees for using online services.

PennDOT will continue to evaluate these processes and will communicate any changes with the public.

Celebrating Labor Day

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PAN’s offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020 for Labor Day. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

PAN’s Live Notary Seminars to Begin in September

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PAN’s instructors will be hitting the road again in September to bring you live notary education.

Attendees must wear face masks. If you cannot wear a mask for medical reasons or choose not to wear a mask, you will not be permitted into the seminar and can contact our Customer Service Department to be transferred into our online course.

In addition, the seminar rooms will be set up according to the governor’s guidance on social distancing. To make the live seminar as contactless as possible, you may download and print the seminar book yourself and bring it to the seminar. Seminar attendees will be emailed a link to a landing page where you may download and print out a copy of the seminar book or store it on a tablet or laptop which can be brought to the seminar.

Per the notary law, all first time and renewing notaries, must obtain three hours of mandatory education, either live or online.

Each live seminar costs $69 and will be held at:

Allentown

First Time Notary – September 1, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1787-B Airport Road.

Notary Reappointment – September 2, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. also at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Wilkes Barre

First Time Notary – September 15, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites, 876 Schechter Drive, Wilkes Barre.

Notary Reappointment – September 16, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., also at the Hampton Inn & Suites.

King of Prussia

First Time Notary – September 22, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Best Western Plus, 127 S. Gulph Road, King of Prussia.

Notary Reappointment – September 23, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., also at the Best Western Plus.

Lancaster

First Time Notary – September 22, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Country Inn & Suites, 2260 Lincoln Highway E., Lancaster.

Notary Reappointment – September 23, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., also at the Country Inn & Suites.

Seating is limited. Please check our website at www.notary.org/Education to be sure the seminar you wish to attend is still open. To register for any of these seminars, please use our website or call our Customer Service Department at 1-800-944-8790.

 

Medical Workers’ ID Badges Won’t Show Last Names

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Act 54 of 2020 allows health systems to omit the last names of employees from workplace photo identification badges worn by medical professionals.

State Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill, who authored Senate Bill 842, said, “In the era of social media, the last name of an employee can provide a malicious individual with information needed to stalk, harass and threaten medical professionals. This new law will provide for added protections for the individuals who work to keep our communities healthy.”

The Act is effective August 31.

Read the bill on the General Assembly’s website:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2019&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0842

Proper ID Webinar Scheduled

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PAN’s latest webinar, “Proper ID,” will be presented on August 27 and 28, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET.

PAN’s Instructors will focus on the rules, regulations and processes you need to know to identify your customer before a notarization. The webinar will cover demanding personal appearance, personal knowledge, acceptable identifications, and the credible witness process. There will also be time for questions after the presentation.

To register, visit https://event.webinarjam.com/register/108/qyyk0irp

We have up-to-date information about how the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is affecting notaries on our Notarization and Coronavirus blog.

PAN recommends using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers to view the webinar. The webinar service allows more people to register than there are available virtual seats. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis for registered participants.

Form I-9 Requirements Flexibility Extended to September 19

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they would extend for 30 days the flexibility to allow employers with remote workforces to examine Form I-9 identity and employment authorization documents using video, fax or email. The option to examine the required documentation remotely instead of in person is now set to expire September 19, 2020.

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