Notary Notes Blog

The latest notary news for Pennsylvania notaries

Announcement

Notaries Don’t Need to Return Bonds

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PAN has learned, in further discussion with the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds, that counties have the capability to scan and send notary bonds to the Department of State electronically. Rather than destroying the paper copies of the bonds after scanning them, recorders return the paper copies in the mail along with the notaries’ commissions.

If you received a paper copy of your bond with your commission, keep the copy with your commission. You do not need to return the paper copy to the recorder’s office.

Acceptable Proof of Identity for Processing Motor Vehicle Applications

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This Driver and Vehicle Services Update Bulletin No. 21-03 dated February 2021 is to inform you of a change in the acceptable forms of identification for titling and registering vehicles in Pennsylvania.

Effective immediately, authorized agents may accept a valid camera card along with an expired Pennsylvania identification credential, or 15 day temporary internet driver license or identification card renewal credential with an applicant’s expired Pennsylvania identification credential for the purposes of titling and registering a vehicle.

With this change, agents may now accept one of the following credentials for identification purposes to issue title and registration documents:

  1. A valid Pennsylvania Photo Driver’s License;
  2. A valid Pennsylvania Photo Identification Card;
  3. A valid Pennsylvania Photo Exempt Driver’s License;
  4. A valid Pennsylvania Photo Exempt Identification Card;
  5. A valid Pennsylvania 15-day temporary internet driver license or identification card renewal credential and expired DL/ID
  6. A valid Pennsylvania Camera Card and Pennsylvania expired identification credential (as listed above); or
  7. A valid U.S. Armed Forces Common Access Card

Dependents of Armed Forces personnel must provide a valid United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card (DD Form 1173).

Each of the identification documents listed above must be in the same name as the name listed on the motor vehicle application.

The Acceptable Proof of Identification Documents for Completing Motor Vehicle Forms Fact Sheet has been updated to reflect this change.

Personal Delivery Devices

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Act 106, signed into law on November 1, 2020, has amended the definition of “Pedestrian” in Title 75, The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. The act takes effect January 30, 2021.

Under Section 1, §102, the definition of a “pedestrian” is as follows:

  1. an individual afoot.
  2. an individual with a mobility-related disability on a self-propelled wheelchair or an electrical mobility device operated by and designated for the exclusive use of an individual with a mobility-related disability.
  3. a personal delivery device.

Act 106 also allows for a “personal delivery device” (PDD) to operate on roadways, shoulder/berms of roadways, and in pedestrian areas. The definition of a personal delivery device is a ground delivery device that:

  1. is manufactured for transporting cargo or goods;
  2. is operated by a driving system that allows remote or autonomous operation, or both; and
  3. weighs 550 pounds or less without cargo or goods.

Since Act 106 places PDDs within the definition of a pedestrian, PDDs are not considered a vehicle and not required to be titled and/or registered as a vehicle under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

Pennsylvanians Experiencing Homelessness Eligible for Free ID Renewal

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Act 131 of 2020, which Governor Tom Wolf recently signed into law, makes it possible for Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness to be issued a free initial photo ID or renewal. Individuals will be required to apply in person at a PennDOT Driver License Center and must meet identification and other requirements. Additional information can be found on the Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov. This section of the law is effective January 25, 2021.

The pertinent section of the Act reads:

Title 75 § 1901.  Exemption of persons, entities and vehicles from fees.

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(b.1)  Identification card fees.–No fee shall be charged for an initial or renewal identification card, including for a photograph required for an initial or renewal identification card, to an individual who affirms in writing that the individual is:

  1. homeless, as defined on the effective date of this subsection in section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Public Law 100-77, 42 U.S.C. § 11302);
  2. a resident of this Commonwealth; and
  3. aware of the prohibitions on unsworn falsification to authorities set forth in 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities).

PAN Cancels Live Seminars for February 2021

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Out of concern for the health and safety of our customers and our instructors, PAN has made the decision to cancel our live seminars scheduled for February 2021.

Our instructors are planning to conduct live online seminars as soon as possible.

We are currently in the process of contacting everyone who is registered for one of the canceled seminars. Registrants will be able to reschedule their seminars for a future date, register for online education, and register for live online seminars once they are available at no additional cost.

If you have questions or need more information, please call PAN’s Customer Service Department at 800-944-8790.

Dealers’ Documentary Fee Increases for 2021

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The maximum documentary fee licensed dealers can charge increased from $324 to $328 for processing title work manually. The fee increased from $389 to $394 for processing title work electronically with an online provider.

The increase is effective immediately.

The documentary fee is adjusted annually according to the Consumer Price Index.