A notary is liable in negligence in failing to exercise due care in determining the identity of the person signing a notarized document.  (Gov. Code, 8214.)  However, there is a statutory safe harbor from liability if the notary relies on a DMV driver’s license issued within the last 5 years and there is no information, evidence, or other circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the person [appearing before the notary] is not the individual he or she claims to be.” (Civ. Code, § 1185(b), (c).)  This decision holds that the safe harbor shields the notary when the would issue (and thus does not require a notary to verify with the DMV that the driver’s license is, in fact, a legitimately issued license)notary relies upon a driver’s license that looks like one the DMV.  The safe harbor is not defeated by expert testimony that standard practice in the industry requires more identification than the safe harbor statute requires, nor is the safe harbor overcome simply because the signer later turns out to have been an imposter.