Maggie's Law Passed in New Jersey

Today, those found guilty in New Jersey of causing an accident while suffering from sleep deprivation can be incarcerated up to 10 years and/or fined up to $150,000.00. You have to be awake for at least 24 hours and knowingly driving while drowsy to be charged under Maggie's Law.

The American Automobile Association reports that someone driving after being awake for 24 hours has the same driving impairment as someone with a blood alcohol content of 0.1 percent, the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol. Sleep deprived drivers cause 100,00 accidents per year, 71,00 injuries, and 1,500 deaths according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Yet, the National Weather Service pours many drowsy drivers unto highways all across the nation in morning rush hour every day of the year

NWSEO has negotiated alternative work schedules designed to ease alleviate this the effects of shift work. We also participated in a joint Shift Work Team with the NWS that addressed issues effecting rotating shift workers. This team was a sub-committee of the National Labor Council (NLC) and consisted of 3 union and 3 management members. The team completed its study and submitted a report to the NLC in June.

Still there are a few managers who refuse to take issues raised by managing rotating shift workers seriously. They refuse to see any benefit in negotiating alternative work schedules or rest breaks during the midnight shift. These managers contribute significantly to the problems addressed in Maggie's Law. They also contribute to possible liability that the NWS faces in managing rotating shift workers.

We will continue to work with the agency to implement the recommendations of the Shift Work Team.