A notary public, acting as an officer authorized by law to issue a certificate, knowingly signs and delivers a certificate containing a false statement as though it were true. Under Government Code section 6203, what is the most accurate consequence described in the source material?
This matches Gov. Code § 6203(a), which specifically makes it a misdemeanor for an officer authorized to make or give a certificate or other writing to make and deliver it as true when it contains statements the officer knows are false.
Liability extends beyond the bond; it includes criminal penalties for knowingly issuing false certificates.
Prosecution must begin within three years after the offense, not four.
The officer may face additional penalties beyond those in section 6203, including civil liability.
Explanation
Government Code section 6203(a) provides that every officer authorized by law to make or give a certificate or other writing is guilty of a misdemeanor if the officer makes and delivers as true a certificate or writing containing statements the officer knows are false. Section 6203(b) further states that prosecution must be commenced within four years after discovery of the offense or within four years after completion of the offense, whichever is later, and section 6203(c) says this penalty is not an exclusive remedy.
— Gov. Code § 6203(a)-(c)