KINSTON, N.C. (WNCT) – North Carolina is one of five states implementing new taser laws for officers.

A 4th circuit court of appeals ruling restricts the use of tasers. It says officers aren’t allowed to use their tasers unless someone is creating “an immediate safety risk.” Now, using a taser is prohibited if a suspect is solely resisting arrest. Kinston Police will re-do its guidelines to follow the new policy.

“We are abiding by those rules and regulations and revamping policies and training our officers on the guidelines they’ve been given,” explained Thompson.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in 2011 after a mentally ill man died when officers tased him when he wouldn’t let go of a stop sign. The court ruled the pain caused by a taser is an excessive use of force that violated the person’s constitutional rights.