It is a crime to interfere with the lawful functioning of the office of notary public. Any person who solicits, coerces, or in any manner influences a notary public to perform an improper notarial act, including an improper act involving the notarial journal, knowing such act to be improper is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Government Code section 8225)

Any person who knowingly destroys, defaces, or conceals any records or papers belonging to the office of a notary public will be guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable in a civil action for damages to any person injured as a result of such destruction, defacing, or concealment. (Government Code section 8221)

It is a misdemeanor for any person who is not a California notary public to represent themselves as one. (Government Code section 8227.1) If they do so in the context of certain real property transactions, it is a felony. (Government Code section 8227.3)