|
||||||
|
||||||
Air
Pollution
Control
Division
|
||||||||||||||||||
Emissions Testing Programs |
|
 Automobile
Inspection
and
Readjustment
|
|
| Roadside Emissions
Testing:
|
Diesel
Emissions
Control
|
| Smoking
Vehicle
Hotline
|
|
|
|
| Oxygenated
Gasoline
Program
|
Small
Business
Technical
Assistance
Program
|
| Clean
Diesel School Bus Retrofit Program |
Maintenance
Matters: Maintain Your Vehicle for Cleaner Emissions |
|
High
Altitude
Vehicle
Test
Facility
|
Emissions
Technical
Centers
|
The
Automobile
Inspection
and
Readjustment
(AIR)
Program's
purpose
is
to
reduce
motor
vehicle
related
pollution
through
the
inspection
and
emissions-related
repair
of
gasoline
powered
motor
vehicles.
Emissions
testing
of
gas
and
diesel
powered
vehicles
is
required
when
registering,
renewing
registrations,
or
selling
vehicles
within
the
program
areas
in
nine
counties
along
Colorado's
Front
Range.
The
"enhanced
program"
consists
of
the
counties
of
Boulder,
Broomfield,
Denver,
Douglas
and
Jefferson
as
the
area
west
of
Kiowa
Creek
in
Adams
and
Arapahoe
counties.
The
"basic
program"
area
consists
of
parts
of
the
counties
of
Larimer,
Weld
and
El
Paso.
The new RapidScreen program in the Denver area and northern Colorado provides an opportunity for vehicles to forego testing if they are found to meet emissions standards after driving by a roadside monitor.
1982
and
Newer
Vehicles:
An
enhanced
test
is
required
for
gasoline
powered
passenger
cars
and
light
trucks
1982
and
newer
in
the
seven-county
Denver
metro
area,
which
includes
the
counties
of
Broomfield,
Denver,
Jefferson,
Boulder,
Douglas,
and
western
Arapahoe
and
Adams
counties
(west
of
Kiowa
Creek).
New
cars
are
exempt
from
testing
to
the
original
owner
for
four
years.
The
enhanced
inspection
is
performed
at
any
one
of
14
inspection
stations
operated
by
AirCare
Colorado.
The
inspection
utilizes
a
dynamometer
which
simulates
actual
driving
conditions.
The
test
is
good
for
two
years.
Motorists
are
alerted
to
the
need
for
a
test
by a
notice
on
their
registration
renewal
forms.
See the AirCare Colorado website for emissions testing information
Older
than
1982:
A
basic
two-speed
idle
test
is
required
each
year
for
vehicles
older
than
1982
and
heavy
trucks
in
the
six-county
Denver
metro
area.
The
basic
test
can
be
performed
at
Air
Care
Colorado
facilities,
or
at
an
independent,
licensed
test
station.
Locations of independent, licensed test stations (PDF file, 1 page)
The basic two-speed idle test emissions program in El Paso, Larimer and Weld counties was discontinued January 1, 2007 based on long-term compliance with the carbon monoxide standards.
The Automobile Inspection and Readjustment Program is administered jointly by the State Air Pollution Control Division and the Colorado Department of Revenue. The state air division certifies the program, including testing procedures and equipment. It works with the Air Quality Control Commission, the Regional Air Quality Council, the state General Assembly, local governments, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and others in assessing the effectiveness of the program and in determining program modifications.
The Department of Revenue administers the day-to-day operations including licensing of inspectors and test facilities, conducting field audits, investigating complaints, processing waivers, collecting revenues, and working with county governments that issue vehicle registrations.
Annual Report of the Colorado Automobile Inspection and Readjustment Program.
AirCare Colorado : More information on emissions testing including station locations, fees, testing tips and what to do if your car fails.
Colorado Department of Revenue : Answers to frequently asked questions about emissions testing.
Diesel Test Stations: A list of licensed diesel emissions testing stations, including locations and test fees. (7 pages, PDF)
Fuel Economy website from EPA that lists gas mileage (MPG), greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution ratings, and safety information for new and used cars and trucks.
To reduce the number of vehicles requiring a traditional emissions inspection, a RapidScreen Program has been established for northern Colorado and the Denver area. Clean vehicles that pass a drive-by roadside test can forego a trip to the emissions inspection station if they receive a notification in the mail saying they passed RapidScreen.
The RapidScreen Program utilizes remote sensing to measure emissions as vehicles drive past roadside monitors. The monitors measure emissions and record license plate numbers.
For more information, e-mail Kim Bruce Livo or phone him at (303) 692-3134.
Beginning in January 2008, roadside emissions testing will seek high-polluting vehicles for mandatory repairs.
The State of Colorado controls diesel exhaust smoke by means of two diesel inspection and maintenance programs – one for fleets of nine or more heavy-duty vehicles, and another for smaller fleets and privately-owned vehicles.
Owners and operators of larger diesel fleets take part in a Diesel Fleet Self-Certification Program. The program requires fleet owners and operators to self-inspect and certify their vehicles annually to maintain compliance with state smoke opacity standards. Fleets subject to the self-inspection and certification are those within the Automobile Inspection and Readjustment Program area with nine or more diesel vehicles of more than 14,000 pounds empty weight. New heavy duty diesel vehicles have a four-year exemption from testing.
A clean diesel school bus retrofit program provides no-cost diesel emission controls for school districts in Colorado.
Small fleets and privately-owned diesel vehicles take part in the Diesel Opacity Inspection Program. This program is for all light-duty diesel vehicles as well as heavy-duty diesel vehicles not subject to the large fleet self-certification program. The Diesel Opacity Inspection Program requires that eligible vehicles be inspected on an annual basis by private, state-licensed diesel inspection stations. New light-duty diesel vehicles are exempt from testing for four years. The program applies only to the Automobile Inspection and Readjustment Program area and utilizes a loaded mode dynamometer-based test.
List
of
diesel
inspection
stations
,
including
locations
and
fees.
(PDF
format,
7
pages)
The
Emissions
Technical
Centers
are
multi-task
facilities
that
conduct
a
variety
of
customer
service
and
field
activities
to
help
motorists
and
the
repair
industry
meet
emissions
requirements.
Customers
of
the
Emissions
Technical
Centers
include:
motorists,
independent
and
franchised
auto
dealers,
automotive
repair
technicians,
diesel
fleet
owners
and
operators,
diesel
repair
facility
owners
and
technicians,
petroleum
marketers,
alternative
fuel
vehicle
converters
and
consumers,
and
the
state
Department
of
Revenue.
The
Emissions
Technical
Centers
answer
questions
from
automobile
technicians
and
the
general
public
regarding
emissions
repairs
and
the
vehicle
inspection
programs.
Staff
conduct
individual
vehicle
evaluations
to
diagnose
recurrent
emissions
problems
and
to
accommodate
consumer
challenges
over
emissions
test
results.
Staff
of
the
Emissions
Technical
Centers
also
provide
training
and
certification
for
repair
technicians
and
emissions
inspectors,
and
conduct
field
inspections
in
support
of
the
diesel
emissions
programs
and
the
oxygenated
gasoline
program.
Location
and
phone
numbers
Denver,
2450
W.
2nd
Ave.,
(303)
744-2442
Broomfield,
11609
Teller
Street,
(303)
744-2442
Aurora,
15608
E.
18th
Avenue,
(303)
364-4135
For
more
information,
e-mail
or
phone
us
at
(303)
744-2442
The
Aurora
Vehicle
Emissions
Technical
Center
provides
all
the
services
described
above,
plus
high
altitude
motor
vehicle
exhaust
emissions
testing.
This
facility
provides
data
for
the
evaluation
of
new
strategies
to
reduce
the
emissions
of
carbon
monoxide,
particulates,
oxides
of
nitrogen,
volatile
organic
compounds
and
other
motor-vehicle
related
pollutants.
Tests
are
conducted
on
the
emissions
performance
of
vehicles
operated
under
a
variety
of
conditions,
such
as
wintertime
driving
or
the
use
of
oxygenated
and
alternative
fuels.
The
facility
also
tests
emissions
control
technology,
such
as
on-
board
diagnostics
that
give
vehicles
the
ability
to
self-detect
emissions
problems.
For
more
information,
e-mail
Jim Kemper or
phone
him
at
(303)
364-5334.
The
state
administers
the
Oxygenated
Gasoline
Program.
The
purpose
of
the
program
is
to
reduce
wintertime
carbon
monoxide
emissions
from
automobiles
through
the
use
of
cleaner
burning
gasoline.
The
program
is
in
effect
in
the
seven-county
Denver
metropolitan
area
from
November
1
through
January
31.
This
area
includes
Denver,
Adams,
Arapahoe,
Boulder,
Broomfield,
Douglas,
and
Jefferson
counties.
To
meet
these
requirements,
gasoline
is
typically
blended
with
ethanol.
For
more
information,
e-mail
Kim
Bruce
Livo or
phone
him
at
(303)
692-3134.
Links:
Oxygenated
Fuel
Study
:
A
detailed
Air
Pollution
Control
Division
study
of
the
impact
of
10
percent
oxygenated
fuel
on
motor
vehicle
emissions.
(PDF
format,
1.3
MB) This
is a
large
file
that
may
require
several
minutes
to
download.
If
you
can
not
download
the
file
please
notify
us
at
comments.apcd@state.co.us
and
we
will
e-mail
you
a
copy.
The
Small
Business
Technical
Assistance
Program
focuses
on
technical
outreach
and
assistance
to
the
automotive
service
and
repair
industry.
Program
staff
coordinate
technician
training,
provide
testing
and
repair
information
to
technicians,
and
work
to
solve
vehicle
repair
issues.
The
program's
aim
is
to
improve
the
effectiveness
and
quality
of
emissions
related
repairs,
thus
achieving
better
air
quality.
The
Small
Business
Technical
Assistance
Program
is
guided
by
industry
experts,
who
serve
on a
Diagnostic
and
Repair
Advisory
Committee.
The
committee
includes
representatives
of
the
automotive
service
and
repair
industry,
tool
and
equipment
manufacturers,
and
automotive
training
providers.
Registered
Repair
Facilities
Program
staff
maintain
a
"registered
repair
facilities"
network
within
the
Denver-
metropolitan
area.
Registered
repair
facilities
receive:
Registered
repair
facilities
are
listed
in a
publication
called
"The
Emissions
Repair
Guide,"
which
is
given
to
drivers
of
vehicles
that
fail
an
emissions
test
in
the
Denver
metro
area.
The
guide
ranks
facilities
in
order
of
their
Repair
Effectiveness
Index.
Motorists
can
use
the
guide
to
select
repair
facilities
that
have
a
proven
record
of
repairing
emissions
related
failures.
Consumer
Assistance
for
Repairs
and
Service
(CARS)
In
addition
to
Small
Business
Technical
Assistance,
the
Consumer
Assistance
for
Repairs
and
Service
(CARS)
Program
was
created.
The
goal
of
CARS
is
to
achieve
greater
emissions
reductions
from
vehicles
that
fail
emissions
tests.
CARS
accomplishes
this
by
providing
motorists
and
repair
facilities
with
current
and
accurate
information
on
the
emissions
repair
process;
by
investigating
consumer
issues
and
problems
within
the
inspection
and
repair
process;
by
developing
solutions
to
both
inspection
and
repair
problems;
and
by
increasing
the
public's
understanding
of
the
inspection
and
maintenance
process
and
its
relationship
to
better
air
quality.
For
more
information,
e-mail
Doug
Decker
or
phone
him
at
(303)
692-3126.
Colorado’s smoking vehicle hotline gives motorists and others the ability to report smoking vehicles to the state Air Pollution Control Division through a telephone hotline (303-692-3211) or by e-mail. The state air division then provides owners of smoking vehicles with information that will encourage them to voluntarily make needed repairs. Repairs to smoking vehicles are required if a vehicle fails a mandatory emissions test because of a visible smoke problem. The cause of such smoke must be corrected before the required emissions sticker can be issued. Also, a police officer may stop a smoking vehicle, issue a ticket and order the owner to make repairs. Colorado law provides for a $25 fine for the first violation of the smoking vehicle law. The fine for subsequent violations is $100 (C.R.S. 42-4-412, 413). Some local municipalities have additional ordinances and fines for operating a smoking vehicle.
