Fredericksburg-based Pas Systems International (www.sniffalcohol.com) has developed a series of passive alcohol sensors. The P.A.S. III Alcohol Sensor looks like an ordinary heavy-duty flashlight. But when the officer directs the light at a driver, it can detect the presence of alcohol and even the concentration in his breath.

"We have a proprietary sampling system that dynamically draws in air, processes the air sample or breath sample through an electrochemical fuel cell and then analyzes the sample for alcohol," explains Jarel Kelsey, president of six-employee Pas Systems, which began operations in 1994.

Many alcohol tests — such as breathalyzers and blood tests — require a suspect’s cooperation. With the passive alcohol sensor, air is taken from around the driver area.

"I’ve had it on the road and it worked quite well," observes Scott Ellis, a police officer in Lansing, Mich. "No one even knew I was using it."

Although field breath tests are not used as evidence in court, the passive sampling is part of the clear sight doctrine. That is, if an officer makes a legal stop, the things he observes — such as the smell of alcohol — may be used as indicators of probable cause to make an arrest, Kelsey says.

Kelsey won’t disclose revenues, but he will say the business is growing. While initially his customers were mostly law enforcement officials, in the past two years he’s seen a growing interest from schools, correctional facilities, drug and alcohol treatment centers and industry.

Ellis recently ordered 25 sensors for his department in Michigan. "It’s a good tool for law enforcement," he says, especially because it’s nonintrusive. After all, the drivers "are breathing no matter what."

— Leila Marija Ugincius