MORRIS COUNTY — State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco plans to introduce legislation aimed at improving paddle board safety following two recent deaths involving paddle boarders in Morris County.
The proposed legislation, called “Carlo’s Law,” would require paddle board rental businesses to provide renters with a safety tether and guidance from the New Jersey State Police on how to properly use the equipment in different water conditions. Rental businesses would also be required to regularly inspect and maintain the safety tethers they provide.
Bucco said Carlo’s Law grew out of another family’s heartbreak, and that the family wanted to turn their loss into something that could help protect others. He said he hopes the legislation can honor that memory by giving paddle boarders the information and safety equipment they need to come home safely.
The announcement follows two separate paddle boarding-related deaths in Morris County. Jonathan Gresseau, 23, of Netcong, was found dead in Tilcon Lake in Mount Olive Township after authorities said he fell into the water while paddle boarding with a group of adults. Gresseau had been reported missing around 8:00 p.m. Saturday, August 15, and was found around 11:00 a.m. the following day. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said paddle boarding is not permitted on Tilcon Lake.
Hours later, Kaushik Sharma, 41, of Edison, was found dead in Lake Hopatcong at Hopatcong State Park in Roxbury Township. Authorities were alerted around 2:30 p.m. after bystanders spotted an unattended paddle board and notified a beach lifeguard. Sharma was found in the water around 7:00 p.m. following a multiagency search. Authorities believe Sharma had been paddle boarding in an area of the beach not supervised by lifeguards.
Under Bucco’s proposed legislation, State Police guidance would explain the proper use of a tether, the types of tethers appropriate for different water conditions, and potential risks associated with improper use. The legislation would also specify that a safety tether does not replace any required personal flotation device.
Bucco, a Republican representing portions of Morris and Passaic counties, plans to formally introduce the legislation during the Senate’s next quorum call, likely in September.
