What is the civil penalty for willful failure to provide a peace officer with a journal when requested?

The civil penalty for willful failure to provide a peace officer with a notary journal when requested is indeed set at $2,500. This significant penalty underscores the importance of notary public accountability and compliance in California. Notaries are required to maintain and safeguard their journals diligently, as these records are crucial for the integrity of the notarization process.

When a peace officer requests access to a notary's journal in the course of an investigation or for verification purposes, the notary has a legal obligation to comply. Willfully failing to do so not only impedes law enforcement duties but also poses risks related to fraud and abuse of the notarization process. The law imposes this civil penalty to emphasize the seriousness of noncompliance and to encourage notaries to adhere strictly to their responsibilities, ensuring that they uphold the trust placed in them by the public and the legal system.