A digital image capturing and processing system comprising a plurality of coplanar illumination and imaging stations for producing a plurality of coplanar linear illumination and imaging planes which intersect within a 3D imaging volume defined relative to an imaging window. Each station includes an array of planar illumination modules (PLIMs) for producing at least one substantially planar illumination beam (PLIB), and a linear image detection array having a field of view (FOV) on the linear image detection array and extending in substantially the same plane as the PLIB, to provide a coplanar illumination and imaging plane (PLIB/FOV). The PLIB/FOV is projected through the 3D imaging volume, for capturing linear (1D) digital images of an object passing therethrough, for subsequent processing and recognition of information graphically represented in the linear digital images. The system includes an automatic object motion detection subsystem for automatically determining when and where an object is being moved through the 3D imaging volume, and a control subsystem for selectively activating illumination sources in only those PLIMs in particular coplanar illumination and imaging stations when an object is being moved within the FOV thereof. By virtue of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the illumination of human beings who might be present along the lines of projected coplanar illumination and imaging planes during the operation of system, at point-of-sale (POS) stations and like retail environments.