Systems and methods are provided for selectively reading and accepting optical codes within a scan volume of the data reader. A method of processing an optical code within the scan volume comprises acquiring, via the data reader, scan data including an image or scan of an optical code located within the scan volume of the data reader, processing the scan data for decodable data corresponding to the optical code, and determining whether to accept or reject the optical code based on a position within the scan volume of the optical code relative to a configurable exclusion zone. The determination of whether to accept or reject the optical code may be based on other conditions of the optical code, such as a position of the optical code within the depth of field of the data reader, a symbology type of the optical code, and data encoded in the optical code.