WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A North Carolina congresswoman is urging more restraint when it comes to how police use chemical agents in response to protesters.

Rep. Alma Adams, D-12th District, introduced legislation making it a criminal violation if police use chemical agents without giving clear warnings and providing “reasonable” time for crowds to disperse.

“This pepper spray and tear gas is very harmful and it's not necessary,” Adams said. “Really, it should be a last resort but we need to take it off the streets.”

Adams says her Right to Protest Act is about holding police departments accountable, creating a federal standard.

The bill’s roll-out comes as police conduct is falling under the microscope nationwide, including how they handle demonstrations.

Video in Charlotte from early June appears to show officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department trapping protesters and firing tear gas and pepper balls. The department has responded, saying multiple dispersal orders were given at the time.

This claim was cororborated by the SBI during their investigation. Accroding to a report released Friday, investigators said radio communications confirmed multipe dispersal orders were given by CMPD during the time in question.

The report also disputed claims of protesters being blocked in and trapped while chemical agents were deployed.

Investigators said video footage taken from multiple sources showed "the intersection is clear and there are two options for escape." 

The Charlotte City Council has stepped in, voting to not pay for additional chemical agents for police use in the next fiscal year.

Asked about Adams’ bill, the president of the North Carolina Fraternal Order of Police argues most departments already give peaceful protesters warnings ahead of using pepper balls, for example.

Randy Hagler called Adams’ bill “dangerous” and also warned of the alternative to chemical agents.

“It’s a lot less serious than other tools on an officer's belt. If they didn’t have that, it could be a whole lot worse,” Hagler said. “We’re just trying to protect everybody's well-being, both the officers, the peaceful protestors, and the rioters.”

Adams’ bill is in its earliest stages on Capitol Hill, and it is unclear if it will gain any traction.

Lawmakers are currently weighing large pieces of legislation aimed at reforming police in light of the death of George Floyd and the resulting nationwide demonstrations.