Federal Employees Could Face Jail Time for Using BlackBerrys

An antiquated jurisprudence is tally to confusion surrounding tonight ’s possible government closedown . Under the 1884 Antideficiency Act , furloughed Union employeescould face two years in prisonjust for using their bureau BlackBerrys or check up on their work email from home .

The law prevents federal employees deemed “ non - essential ” from working when no budget is in situation . This used to be dim-witted ; you just would n’t show up . But since the last government shutdown in 1995 , regime - go forth impertinent headphone have become critical tools for many Union employees . Some departments say they ’ll just take by the devices all together . Workers , however , would have to return to their offices on Monday to physically hand over the devices , another expert violation of the law . And if they are n’t sequester , who ’s to say employees are n’t check them ?

Non - all-important employees are n’t supposed to check into their work e-mail , either , whether by BlackBerry or home computer . The administration will have to brush up all 800,000 federal employee and resolve which one are “ take out , ” those that can carry on to perform “ all important functions , ” and those that are not . The latter group will be thrust back into the disconsolate age of communications , meaning any time before the early 2000s .

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