Which of the following actions can result in an administrative penalty for a notary?

Acts showing dishonesty with the public can lead to an administrative penalty for a notary because notaries are expected to uphold a high standard of integrity and trustworthiness in their role. The notary public serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, and any behavior that undermines this impartiality—such as dishonest actions—can result in severe consequences, including administrative penalties.

Notaries have an obligation to identify and verify the identities of the signers, ensure that the documents are signed willingly and without coercion, and maintain accurate records of their acts. Failing to act honestly not only compromises the individual notary’s credibility but can also erode public trust in the notarial system as a whole. Therefore, engaging in dishonest practices is a direct violation of the ethical standards that govern notarial conduct, which can lead to disciplinary actions by regulatory bodies.

The other options, while they may involve questionable practices, are not necessarily directly linked to dishonesty in the way that option B is. Taking authorized notarized copies, providing legal advice, and giving free notarizations can be missteps within the notarial field, but they do not inherently reflect dishonesty that would warrant an administrative penalty.