Most of the Spanish coastal towns hire students during peak season, 8h a day, as lifeguards. They are undertrained, receive very low wages and most of them are unfit for the job. But they are entitled to ban swimming if they consider ir risky, what on average happens 20% of the days. Consider that we're talking about the peaceful Mediterranean Sea, not the North Sea.

If the swimmer ignores the warning, they call the local police, who gives a ticket to the non compliant. Fines are in the 2000€ to 3000 € range.

I've seen it many times. An overweight lifeguard scolding a fit swimmer for daring to swim under what they think are risky conditions. "You are putting me on danger" is the most common and stupid argument.

My guess is that city halls are using this as an extra income, and young lifeguards are the collecting vehicle.

This is only possible because people have normalized government tutelage. They give away their freedoms expecting security.

But in the end, as B.Frankling said once, they lose both.