FT. LAUDERDALE - Veterans groups in South Florida are lobbying for county ordinances that would require gas stations with two or more attendants to post stickers on their pumps displaying the store??s telephone number, allowing handicapped motorists to call clerks inside and request fueling assistance, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

The Americans with Disabilities Act currently addresses the issue, instructing disabled motorists to "honk or otherwise signal" an employee to come out and lend assistance.

The Paralyzed Veterans Association of Florida said the phone number sticker plan would be a major improvement. As such, Timothy Werner, the association??s advocacy director, proposed the idea to Broward County commissioners earlier this month who expressed willingness to research the issue.

"I had no idea that what the law states is that you [must] make noise to get [the clerk's] attention inside??I think it's a really great idea," said Commissioner Lois Wexler.

Local veterans have said they often cannot get assistance, despite waving or honking. "The employees either are ignoring them or can't see them," Werner said, adding he plans to appeal to Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties next.

Hillsborough County, in the Tampa area, is the first county to have adopted the ordinance, passing a bill last month. As such, area pumps there display bright blue stickers on the pumps with the words "assistance available upon request," the station??s phone number, and the accessibility icon used on disabled parking permit placards.

Ned Bowman, executive director of The Florida Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, said he believes the plan is one that association members would support. "Most stores have phones. If two people are there, then one can go out and pump the gas," he said.

However, Bowman said many of the state??s 7,000 convenience stores that sell fuel only have one person on duty, and those would not be required to have the stickers. Federal regulations state attendants working alone do not have to assist motorists.

Another option for disabled drivers is full service, and state and federal laws require motorists be offered the less expensive self-service price for the assistance. But full-service stations are rare in Florida, with an estimated 125 statewide and 13 in Broward and Palm Beach counties.