Hi,

  We have a memebership program.
  Right now people can signup for our program by faxing/mailing in a
signup form or by siging up online.

  We would like to add a third option.
  We will be going to confrences and meetings where there are many
people who might want to sign up. We don't want to have to manually
sign up all of these people so what we would like to do is get a
barcode reader that can read the barcode on driver licences and
retreive all the data.

  If we can do that then we can have people who are interested in
sigining up can just hand us their drivers licence and we would scan
it and print a confirmation.

A couple of issues that need to be answered.

1) We are mostly concerned abou NY & NJ licences.
2) Is the data encrypted?
3) Any legal issues?
4) Appropriate Scanner Model number
5) Data Format Specifications

Thanks

pay_com...

1) NY uses 1-D/2-D coding. NJ is slated to begin using
coding in February, 2003, per these two pdf files on 
the MISchoice site:
http://www.mischoice.com/images/Scan_ID_States.pdf
and
http://www.mischoice.com/images/OCR_States.pdf

2) Per the same pdf files, above, neither state is
using encrypted data.

3) Since the SOLD II company sells scanners and software
to be used to register bidders at auctions, and the
scanning would be done on a voluntary basis, there are
no legal issues that I have been able to ascertain.
SOLD II offers their keyboard scanning hardware, along
with auction-specific registration software, here:
http://www.soldii.com/tech.html

4) SOLD II 1-D BarCode Reader (Keyboard Wedge)
   - $125 each
   Can read New York 1-D barcode, per SOLD II's
   state-by-state legend, here:
https://www.american-data.net/soldii/store/aamva.html

*Note: per SOLD II's state-legend page, New Jersey
is already using MS (magnetic strip) and 2-D bar
coding. This information differs from the MISchoice
state-legend pdf files (further down in the answer).
SOLD II's page also has a disclaimer regarding the
accuracy of the information at the top of the page.

   SOLD II 2D BarCode Reader (Keyboard Wedge)
   - $ 749 each
   Can read New York/New Jersey 2D barcode PDF417
   per the same legend above.

   SOLD II software modules vary. The 'no-frills'
   version for Windows is listed as $299, but is
   auction-specific software.

   MISchoice CAV-3200 – 1D/2D Barcode Scanner and
   Magnetic Drivers License Reader - no price given
   Can read NY 1D-2D barcode, will read NJ 2D barcode
   when implemented in Feb '03, per this pdf file:
http://www.mischoice.com/images/Scan_ID_States.pdf

   MISchoice IDSCAN 600C – OCR Drivers License Reader
   no price given - Can read NY and will read NJ
   End of 2002/Beg. 2003 per this pdf file:
http://www.mischoice.com/images/OCR_States.pdf

   MIS-APIS ID Scanner Software - no price given
All MIS products can be viewed here:
http://www.mischoice.com/data_capture_software.html

The MISchoice company specializes in hardware and 
software for the transportation industry, such as
airlines, who will be scanning licenses to comply 
with US Customs APIS (Advnced Passenger Information
Services) guidelines.

Quotes can be obtained from MISchoice via contact here:
http://www.mischoice.com/contacts.html

5) Did I cover Data Format Specifications already?
I'm not sure what you meant by this.


Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by means of a dialog with
the researcher through the "Request for Clarification" process.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

drivers license barcode "new york"
://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&q=drivers+license+barcode+%22new+york%22

---

Clarification of Answer by sublime1-ga on 18 Dec 2002 20:46 PST

pay_com...

I just became aware of some additional links which may
address your request for Data Format Specifications.

1-D refers to one-dimensional and is the same as the 
barcodes on grocery items. 2-D refers to two-dimensional
and is also called PDF or Portable Data File. There's 
more information here, at Symbol.com:
http://www.symbol.com/products/barcode_scanners/2d__products__pdf417_technolog.html

MAG refers to magnetic strip, as in the one on
your credit cards.

Regarding the legality issue, another article which
supports commercial use is found here, on the 
VaccinationNews website, attributed to NYTimes.com:
http://www.vaccinationnews.com/DailyNews/March2002/FindingPayDirtScannableDriversLicenses.htm

And, last, but not least, here is another site which
sells scanner hardware and software - PositiveAccess:
http://www.positiveaccess.com/Products/Accessories/accessories.html

Their page with state-by-state details of 'where it
works' is here:
http://www.positiveaccess.com/Support/Where_it_Works/where_it_works.html

Their page also notes that New Jersey is not yet active.

The IDecode software is available for a single license
for $395:
http://www.positiveaccess.com/Purchase/Software_Purchase/software_purchase.html

Welch Allyn 3800 2D - PDF417 bar code reader with a
serial 9 pin connector (RS-232) and power adapter:
$489

Mag-Tek three track reader with a serial 9 Pin
connector (RS-232): $179

Both the above units are on this page:
http://www.positiveaccess.com/Purchase/Accessories_Purchase/accessories_purchase.html

A tip o' the hat to tar_heel_v-ga for the heads-up!

sublime1-ga

Great Job -

pay_com...

Thank you so much for the great rating and the generous tip!