SPOKANE, Wash. — The city of Spokane is making progress on a law that would update its regulations for heated sidewalks.
The law is now being referred to as "Hank's Law" after Zach Harper's dog, who was electrocuted outside a bank in downtown Spokane.
Last February, Harper was walking his dog on this sidewalk outside Washington Trust Bank parking garage on First Avenue. Hank suddenly appeared to suffer an electric shock. He died minutes later.
A report later found that Hank's tragic death was likely caused by a stray voltage from a decades-old sidewalk heating system.
"It really brought attention to a problem that most of us didn't know," city council member Breean Beggs said. "There are certain sidewalks downtown that have an electrical system that heats the sidewalk. But if they were put it a while ago there was no requirement to put in a cut off switch when it shorted out."
Beggs has worked with the dog's owner to create a law that changes this.
"Hank's law" would require all systems be upgraded with ground-fault protections, which would shut off them off if there was a stray voltage.
It would also create an inventory of properties with deicing and snow melt systems, by requiring property owners to register with the city engineer.
"Usually, when we update the safety code, it's for all new buildings going forward," Beggs said. "But this one was serious enough that we went back in time that we said no, everyone has to do it. That should never happen again. Which is a win for everyone, including the building owners. They don't want to have to deal with that as well."
The law has been reviewed by a committee and expected to received full support from city council when it's placed on the agenda.
"Zach has been a great advocate for the change," Beggs said. "I'd say he's been really level headed about it while grieving for his lost pet. He's been a really good partner to work with. I'm glad that he really brought it to our attention."
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