I don’t remember a time when personal safety was more on our minds than now. The world and country we live in show us images of all sorts of violence and scary situations people get into every single day. That same personal safety concern is even more prolific in certain neighborhoods and within certain demographics. It's a real-life concern, and it could and has prevented prospective notaries and new notaries from stepping out and starting their mobile careers. 

I have spoken to probably over a hundred prospective notaries who are worried about safety. Being a mobile notary takes you into all sorts of neighborhoods, facilities, and situations, some of which might seem to be unsafe. I understand the fear. However, in my experience and the experience of hundreds and thousands of notaries nationwide, you might be surprised how safe being a mobile notary can be. Still, those safety concerns are valid, so today I would like to give you five steps to staying safe as a mobile notary. 

Step1: Plan ahead

This is important because it can make or break your sense of security when you're heading out to appointments. Know where you’re going, what the weather is like, road closures, and even forest fires. The last one, forest fires, is listed because I drove through one. Also, depending on the time of day, check the neighborhood out online. Is it somewhere you are comfortable going after dark? This step will become easier and easier as you do more and more work as a mobile notary. You will be working in repeat communities, depending on where you live, and you will get a good idea of neighborhoods, road conditions, traffic patterns, and how long the drive will be. The more you can plan ahead of time, the less room there will be for surprise situations. Now, I need to say that planning isn’t going to prevent everything, but it will be helpful in the long run.

Step 2: Vehicle Maintenance

I don’t know about you, but the very last thing I want to do is be stuck on the side of the road in the rain at night in a sketchy area. Maintaining your vehicle is extremely important and should be an absolute priority in your budget. We're talking about regular service appointments, brake inspections every six months, tire and car servicing, windshield wiper replacements, car cleaning, and detailing. Take care of that car, as your car is what is allowing you to provide your mobile notary services. I would also add that you make sure your auto insurance has roadside assistance, and if not  (or not during off hours), consider supplemental insurance like with AAA. 

Step 3: Spatial Awareness

This might seem like a strange step, but I live with an 18-year-old who struggles with spatial awareness. What is spatial awareness? It's being able and active in fully comprehending everything and everyone around you. I am not encouraging you to be paranoid; but encouraging you not to be oblivious. For example, as you drive down a residential street to your appointment, scan the neighborhoods, the cars, and the neighbors. I had an appointment once where it was dark, and about two doors down from the signing appointment, two men were in a knife fight. They weren't too close to the appointment location, but I had a tingling sensation down my spine. I called the signers, asked if they would like to meet at the Starbucks down the street, and explained my issues. 

Spatial awareness also applies to the home you entering. Pay attention to where you are, who is there, and what's going on. Normally, it's perfectly fine, but I have had to call CPS once, and I know notaries who have had to call APS. CPS and APS stand for Child Protective Services and Adult Productive Services. Our lives weren’t in danger, but because we were acutely aware of our surroundings, we could make a judgment call that we thought was best for the situation. 

Step 4: Trust Your Gut.

In many of the situations we've touched on, trusting your gut feeling is an integral part of your safety. The knife fight down the street? Gut feeling. Simply talking to a client on the phone gives a gut feeling. Trust your gut. Now, I need to say this: if you are new, trusting your gut might mean you never go out for a signing, but I am talking about using our senses when we are out and about for work. Have you never had a gut feeling? I promise you have. It's our body's way of alerting us to danger. Have you ever met someone who gave you the hibbee jibbees? That's your gut saying- NO, THANK YOU. My suggestion is that you trust that response. Make sure it's not just new notary jitters but truly something you don’t feel so good about. 

Step 5: Walk Away

This step is the outcome of steps 3 and 4. If you are in a signing and the situation is not safe or is confrontational or violent - whatever you would earn at that appointment is not more important than your life. Get up and walk away. An example is a couple that is going through a divorce that won't stop screaming at each other. Leave if you can’t bring them to the table to complete the signing. Clearly, if people are fighting or throwing things or you see weapons pulled, get up and get out. You are your own boss. No matter who the client is, it's not worth your safety and certainly not worth your life. 

I want to give you one more piece of advice. Tell someone where you're going. Share your location with them on your phone. Let them know where, when, and when you expect to return. It doesn’t matter who it is. It could be your spouse, your parent, your friend. Tell someone. If anything happens to you, having someone who knows the appointment details will help if needed. 

All of these tips are great practices to put in place. Still, I will tell you, if the fear of your safety keeps you from taking the plunge into this amazing field of Notaries, understand that though there are cases now and then of notaries who have been victimized, they are not that common. If you employ the steps I have shared with you, it will go miles in helping you stay safe when you are a mobile notary in your community. 

Thanks for reading! If you have a question or comment, you can leave a comment without logging into my page. Just give your name and click comment as a guest. 

Until Next week- Stay Safe Out There!

Jennifer K. Cooper, JKC Mobile Notary