CRPA Member Alert: CADOJ Advisory- Barcode Scanners
The California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, issued Advisory No. 183 on July 31, 2026, addressing barcode scanner requirements for the redesigned California driver license and identification cards. Below is a summary of what you need to know and what steps to take.
What Changed
Effective October 1, 2025, newly issued California DL/ID cards feature an updated design. The magnetic stripe on the back of the card has been removed and replaced with two optical barcodes (one of which includes a digital security signature). Existing DL/ID cards remain valid until they expire, but as more customers present the new cards, your point-of-sale scanners must be able to read them to submit data electronically through the DROS Entry System (DES).
What Your Scanner Must Do
To read the new cards and submit data to DES, your barcode scanner must:
- Support PDF417 (2D) barcode reading
- Be configurable to replace each Line Feed (LF) character with a caret (^) character before transmitting data to DES
DOJ-Recommended Scanner Models
DOJ has tested and recommends the following models:
- Zebra DS9308
- Honeywell 1470g
- Newland NLS-HR32
- Datalogic Gryphon D4520
Advisory 183 includes model-specific configuration barcodes you scan to set up each device for DES compatibility. If you use one of these models, scan the configuration barcode(s) provided in the advisory before first use. If you use a different scanner, you are responsible for researching and implementing the correct configuration for your device.
If Your Scanner Cannot Read the New Cards
If your equipment cannot obtain the required information from the new DL/ID, you must retain a photocopy of the customer’s driver license or identification as proof of compliance. (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 11, § 4045.2; Pen. Code, § 28180, subd. (b)(2).)
Best Practices
- After configuring your scanner, test it by scanning a new DL/ID barcode into a text editor to confirm the output contains caret (^) characters.
- When scanning, make sure you are reading the 2D barcode, not the 1D barcode printed nearby on the card.
- Keep scanner firmware updated per manufacturer instructions.
- In multi-scanner locations, label each device clearly.
Questions
Contact the Bureau of Firearms Customer Support Center at 855-365-3767 or bofdes@doj.ca.gov.
CRPA recommends Dealers and Ammunition Vendors review their current scanner equipment promptly and upgrade or reconfiguring as needed to avoid disruptions to DROS transactions. If you have questions about how this advisory affects your operations, please reach out to us directly.