Scanners

TEG Public Safety Software has the ability to interface with barcode scanners to read PDF417 AAMVA DL/ID standard compliant barcodes from documents such as driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.  The data from the barcode is read into TraCS and/or MACH common information and can then be used throughout the software making individual, vehicle, and carrier data entry a simple two-click process.

Almost all states contain a PDF417 barcode on the front or back of their driver’s licenses.  This barcode typically contains all of the information that is listed on the front of the DL.  TraCS and MACH can read these barcodes if they follow the AAMVA standard.  However, most states have interpreted the standards differently introducing variations of the standard. Both TraCS and MACH have taken this into account with a set of sophisticated deciphering algorithms that are able to interpret most barcodes attempting to meet the AAMVA DL/ID standards.

Other state documents such as vehicle registrations and commercial motor vehicle CAB cards that contain PDF417 barcodes are also readable by TraCS and MACH if they were encoded using the same AAMVA standards for driver’s licenses.  The standards for non DL/ID barcodes are still being developed.  TraCS and MACH are not capable of reading barcodes that significantly deviate from the AAMVA standard or barcodes that are encrypted, however, through the TraCS External Information functionality, custom programming libraries can be written to handle these extreme scenarios.

TraCS and MACH can interface with most 2D barcode scanners on the market as long as they are capable of reading the PDF417 barcode symbology and can communicate over a COM port. Many 2D barcode readers plug into a computer’s USB port and then use a device driver to communicate over a COM port.

TraCS and MACH can also interface with a special type of barcode scanner called an image scanner.  Image scanners, in addition to being able to read barcodes, can take digital pictures of signatures, diagrams, and other attachments to be used on TraCS forms.  MACH can only use barcode image scanners to scan barcodes and does not contain functionality to capture signatures or other images using the device.

Because each image scanner model uses different firmware, each one must be coded to work with TraCS and MACH individually.  TraCS can currently interface with the following image scanners:

• L-Tron 4910LR Next Gen Area-Imaging Scanner

• 4810LR-153-LTRK Imager

• 4710131-LTRK Imager

• 4600131-LTRK-USB Imager

• 4600R151-LTRK-USB Imager

 MACH can interface with the above image scanners and others that can simulate barcode scanners.