Abstract: A device and method for passively activating an inductive loop vehicle sensor. The sensor has an inductive loop in a roadway that produces an electro-magnetic field and utilizes the changes caused by the interaction of a detectable vehicle with the field to activate it. The device includes at least one metallic foil having sufficient area and thickness to cause changes sufficiently similar to changes caused by a detectable vehicle to activate the sensor when said foil is placed within the electro-magnetic field. The method includes providing such a device and deploying the device in a plane substantially parallel to the roadway and within the field of the loop.