A Hudson County attorney has filed a complaint against Gov. Chris Christie, saying he used his position unethically when he and family members basked in the warm sun at Island Beach State Park Sunday while the public was turned away because of the state shutdown.

In accordance with the "Plain Language Guide to New Jersey's Executive Branch Ethics Standards" no person of the executive branch may obtain a "special benefit" as a result of their position ... in the executive branch," according to the complaint filed today with the State Ethics Commission by West New York attorney Mario M. Blanch.

"The governor and his family hold no special privileges over the residents and citizens of the state of New Jersey," the complaint says. "By using the park, 'in direct contravention to the shutdown,' (Christie) utilized his position as governor ... to obtain benefits for himself and his family that members of the general public could not enjoy for themselves."

Blanch noted that while Christie and family members were on the beach, the state shutdown ordered by Christie due to a budget impasse caused many businesses to lose money and caused inconvenience to numerous families traveling during the Fourth of July weekend.

It was reported that Cub Scouts and their family members planning to camp at Cheesequake State Park in Matawan were forced to break camp and leave due to the shutdown.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop moved the city's Fourth of July fireworks and festival from Liberty State Park to Exchange Place due to the shutdown. And a 5K fundraiser for the New Jersey Special Olympics was canceled, costing the organization roughly $40,000 in donations.

The shutdown of state facilities began on July 1 and ended on July 3, after a budget agreement was reached. Although Liberty State Park had reopened by July 4, Fulop moved forward with events at Exchange Place.

Speaking about what many are calling "Beachgate," the governor said he and his family had access only to the governor's beach house and they did not request any state services while there.

The governor said his official residence in Princeton was also left without state services, but was nonetheless available to him. He also said that if others want to use the beach house, they should run for governor.

A spokesman for the governor's office did not provide a comment on the ethics complaint today.

In the complaint, Blanch requests the ethics committee find the governor in violations of state ethics guidelines, impose fines and sanctions, and mandate that Christie "pay restitution in an amount of the fair market value of renting a private beach in New Jersey during the July Fourth weekend."

Blanch said he was outraged when he saw the New Jersey Advance Media aerial image of Christie and those with him on the beach on Sunday -- an image that made national headlines and inspired hundreds of internet memes.

"No person is above the law, and Gov. Christie had no right to plop himself in a beach chair when the general public did not have access to the beach," Blanch said today. "The governor's actions are unfair, outrageous, and completely unethical. Gov. Christie should plop himself somewhere else, because New Jersey does not need politicians who only care about themselves."

The complaint was filed via fax and was addressed to Ethics Committee Executive Director Susana E. Guerrero. In the complaint, Blanch also asks to be notified when a date for a hearing on the complaint is set so that he may attend.

Exhibit A in the complaint is the picture of Christie on the beach on Sunday.