We knew it wouldn’t be long until someone proposed a law to try and prevent people from drowning at the shore when no lifeguard is on duty.

However, if you’re stupid enough to take your life in your hands swimming at an unguarded beach, do we need a law to remind you that you shouldn’t, or that you can’t?

So, in the best tradition of Nanny State-ism, Asbury Park beach safety supervisor Joe Bongiovanni wants a state law passed that an after-hours swimming ban should be in effect from May 1 to Oct. 1.

Having signs abound up and down the shore imploring you not to swim when a lifeguard’s not on duty. No….that apparently is not enough.

The best way to a prevent drowning like the one that took the life of 23-year-old Chazmin Miles Wednesday would be a state law prohibiting swimming on unguarded beaches, says city beach safety supervisor Joe Bongiovanni.

“It’s a state law that you can’t text while driving and that you can’t smoke in restaurants,” Bongiovanni said after a body believed to be the missing Irvington man’s was recovered about 10:15 a.m. Thursday. “All these laws are passed to protect people against themselves. Why not this one?”

“We get everyone out of the water and pride ourselves that we don’t let it happen during bathing hours,” he said. “But unless you patrol it 24-7, it’s going to happen.”

And it did happen.

The body of an 18-year-old Bayonne man was recovered early this afternoon in the waters off of Seaside Park, not far from where he disappeared in the surf, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Nick Ameen said a body matching the description of the teenager that went missing was recovered near O Street at approximately 1:40 p.m. The victim, who was not identified, was swimming with three friends on Wednesday when they began to struggle in rip currents.

His friends were rescued but the 18-year-old never resurfaced. There were no lifeguards on duty at the beach Wednesday.

The teenager is the second victim to die in the waters off the New Jersey coast since Wednesday. Earlier today, Asbury Park police Chief Mark Kinmon said the body of Chazmin Miles, 23, an Irvington man who went under the surf Wednesday afternoon, was found by divers near where he went missing.

So yes Joe is right, it’s going to happen. And continue to happen. Stupid always seems to happen. Unfortunately the law can’t protect you from yourself if you’re going to do something stupid.

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