I’ll have to look into the new change. Yes, there is no witness. Only a photo. But as I recall at the time the issue was not just no testimony but no ability to cross examine. The state did prosecute a few cases and brought in “experts” who swore the cameras were accurate but ultimately that is also dubious. They are not the ones taking the photo and again nobody was able to physically examine the cameras. Anyone can photoshop an image.
Also if I recall, the revenue is or was split with the company that operated them. Which does create a conflict of interest. It’s in the operators interest to generate fines. And it’s in the cities’ interests to mess with traffic patterns and lights to purposefully frustrate drivers to generate fines. You know if you make the next light you’ll make the next 10 lights, so maybe you go a little faster for a few 100 feet. Which is unsafe; but profitable to the city.
Therein lies the problem. The actual 'root of all evil'. Letting the competitive spirit rule without proper driver training.
While driving the average road or highway I can:
Use less fuel
Less wear on the brakes
Go slower than other drivers
Keep reaction time to a maximum
Have fewer accidents
Have fewer tickets
And yet my average speed is higher and I pass the same Mario Andretti type drivers over and over. I arrive at my destination much calmer.
The lack of TRUE driver training is what leads to Road Rage. That, and hormone rages. Which has led to popular songs about hormones/adrenalin/sexual relationships.
But I doubt we will ever change our tune, or institute proper Driver Education. As humans we resist being told what to do and especially how to do it.