Disabled Drivers to Get Assistance at the Pump

From Hillsborough County Government Online:

Disabled drivers officially get some assistance at the pump in Hillsborough County, as the County Gas Ordinance goes live on Sunday, April 1.

While County Ordinance 11-23, Gas Pumping Assistance for Persons with Disabilities, went into effect on January 1, 2012, enforcement was delayed 90 days to allow gas station owners the time necessary to comply as appropriate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires gas stations, including those offering self-service, to provide equal access for their customers with disabilities.

For self-service gas stations, the ADA requires gas stations to provide refueling assistance upon the request of a customer with a disability if there is more than one attendant on duty at the station. At many gas stations, assistance can be received by calling the number on the decal at the pump.

Violations of this Ordinance may subject the violator to civil penalties or criminal prosecution as a misdemeanor, with a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 60 days, or by both.

A copy of County Ordinance 11-23 can be found online at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/liaisons/ada/ and click “Gas Pumping Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Ordinance.”