In California, it looks like you do need a signature because VC 40504(a) says

The officer shall deliver one copy of the notice to appear to the arrested person and the arrested person in order to secure release must give his or her written promise to appear in court ...

If you don't have a signature, how did the arrested person secure their own release? If the person was present and did not secure their release by giving their written promise to appear, why were they not arrested and brought to jail? Was the arrested person even present?

These are the kinds of questions I would ask if I was presented with a notice to appear, but wasn't signed by me.





VC 40504(a)
The officer shall deliver one copy of the notice to appear to the arrested person and the arrested person in order to secure release must give his or her written promise to appear in court or before a person authorized to receive a deposit of bail by signing two copies of the notice which shall be retained by the officer, and the officer may require the arrested person, if this person has no satisfactory identification, to place a right thumbprint, or a left thumbprint or fingerprint if the person has a missing or disfigured right thumb, on the notice to appear. Thereupon, the arresting officer shall forthwith release the person arrested from custody. Except for law enforcement purposes relating to the identity of the arrestee, no person or entity may sell, give away, allow the distribution of, include in a database, or create a database with, this print.