California Surveyors Forums

Can a city ask me to submit my topographic map digitally with my digital seal and stamp on it?
I don't have a digital signature and don't want to use one.

Politely tell them, no thank you, with a smile.

There are no laws requiring you to do that.

Perhaps instead submit with note that says "original signed on xx-xx-xxxx.

Although I'm not sure you're really protecting yourself much by doing so. Any recorded document you prepared will contain your signature which is not too difficult to transfer by digital means in today's electronic age by an unscrupulous individual.

I do have a digital signature that works in Autocad.
It never stays in the drawing after I create a pdf.
I also purge that drawing several times and save it over itself to eliminate vestiges of the block created when I use it.
That signature is also never saved to any computer in the office and is not even on any of my personal devices other than some storage media to which I allow no one else access.

Guaranteed, no digital files out of the office with the signature in that file.

They can certainly ask. And you can just as certainly say, "No."

Perhaps they should be kindly reminded of BPELSG's email late last year regarding stolen licenses?

Stephen Johnson wrote:I do have a digital signature that works in Autocad.
It never stays in the drawing after I create a pdf.
I also purge that drawing several times and save it over itself to eliminate vestiges of the block created when I use it.
That signature is also never saved to any computer in the office and is not even on any of my personal devices other than some storage media to which I allow no one else access.

Guaranteed, no digital files out of the office with the signature in that file.

Someone can scan any document (map, description, etc.) that you have signed.

Thanks all for your responds. I told the office to scan my signed and stamped topo.