1. A scanning subsystem for use in an apparatus for verifying an identification card and the identity of a person to be identified by said card, said card including scannable indicia representative of an encryption of a metric derived from a selected biometric of said person to be identified, said apparatus comprising: a) a scanner for scanning a field, said field comprising first and second sub-fields; b) first means for positioning said card so that said indicia lie within said first sub-field; c) second means for positioning a correspondingly selected biometric characteristic of a person presenting said card within said second sub-field; and d) data processing means for: d1) controlling said scanner to scan said field when said indicia and said correspondingly selected biometric are positioned within said first and second sub-fields respectively, d2) receiving a data image of said indicia and said correspondingly selected biometric from said scanner.