CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte has a problem with deadly car crashes.

Last year 74 people were killed. That’s up more than 30 percent from the year before.

“What we have basically is just irresponsible behavior by drivers, inattentive driving,” (R) Charlotte City Councilor Ed Driggs.

The city has a vision zero plan to cut the number.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department plans to step up patrols and the city wants to make streets safer. However, one thing missing from the discussion so far: red light cameras.

“I think we should revisit them, take another look at them,” said (D) Charlotte City Councilor Greg Phipps.

In April, city council will do just that as the city manager presents his findings.

Red light cameras have a troubled past in the Queen City. The city had red light and speed cameras from 1998 to 2006 and there was a financial downside.

A court ruling found that 90 percent of the proceeds from the cameras had to be given to CMS which put the city on the hook for a lot of money as it had to pay the camera operator.

“A lot of people saw this as a nuisance tax thing that basically was going to mainly a third party contractor,” Driggs said.

It forced the city to get rid of the cameras in 2006.

Three years later it had to pay CMS nearly $5 million.

Despite their history, cameras will be back in front of council next month.

“If the answers are that it makes everything more safe and it doesn't impact taxpayers in a negative way I'm all for it,” said (R) Charlotte City Councilor Tariq Bakhari.

Continued coverage- Part 2: Should Charlotte bring back red light cameras