DENVER -- People living in Larimer and Weld counties have been enjoying it since last year, but now Denver-area residents can participate in the new efficient way to get cars up to speed -- the drive-by emissions test.

On Tuesday, Gov. Bill Owens kicked off the roadside program, which will now be rolling out in seven Front Range counties.

With the new program, there's no need to hit the brakes, much less stop by a special garage to pass an emissions test.

All a person has to do is drive by a special van equipped with a computer that measures a vehicle's emissions and photographs its license plate. Beams of infrared and ultraviolet light emitted from the van measure car exhaust for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

"RapidScreen is all about convenience for the consumer and maintaining our commitment to a healthier Colorado," said Owens. "This is a great example of how technology can help improve our quality of life."

If a truck or car passes two consecutive RapidScreen tests, those vehicle owners can skip the emissions testing station when it's time to renew their vehicle registration.

"RapidScreen rewards motorists who have properly maintained their vehicles by allowing them to complete the entire registration process from the convenience of their own home," said Doug Benevento of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

This is a "clean screening" program, not a "dirty screening" program so motorists who fail the drive-by test will not be penalized. Instead, they will just have to go and get a standard emissions test at a local emissions test facility at their regularly scheduled time.

The RapidScreen test costs the same as a standard emissions test, but if a vehicle qualifies, the fee will be indicated on the registration renewal postcard. Drivers simply pay the RapidScreen fee along with their registration renewal fee.

New residents driving a vehicle into the area for initial registration, vehicles undergoing a change of ownership, diesel vehicles and vehicles that are model year 1981 or older are not eligible for RapidScreen participation.

The program, the second of its kind to operate in a metropolitan area in the United States, is a joint project of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Department of Revenue, and Envirotest, the contractor providing the mobile testing vehicles. The country's first such program has been operated by Environmental Systems Products in the St. Louis since 2000.

The RapidScreen vans will rotate through cities and counties in the Denver area. The clearly marked vans will remain in their scheduled location for one week before rotating, said Benevento.

The remote sensing equipment utilized by RapidScreen is based upon equipment designed originally by Donald H. Stedman, PhD., a chemistry professor at the University of Denver. The remote sensing technology can evaluate nearly 3,000 cars per hour, operators say.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the vans will be at the ramp from Federal onto eastbound Interstate 70 and at the exit from northbound Interstate 25 to northbound Speer.

For more information and van locations, go to AirCareColorado.com.