A method and system for decoding data appearing within a field of view (FOV) of an indicia reader includes providing first illumination to a first region of the FOV, the FOV further having a second region of the FOV that does not receive the first illumination. An imaging assembly captures image data of an environment within the FOV. Responsive to determining a presence of an indicia within the first region of the FOV, the method further includes at least one of (i) transmitting the image data to a decoder module, (ii) decoding the indicia by the decoder module, or (iii) generating a successful decode operation. Responsive to determining a presence of indicia within the second region of the FOV, the method includes performing at least one of (i) not transmitting the image data to the decoder module, (ii) not decoding the indicia by the decoder module, or (iii) not generating a successful decode operation.