probably the minority on HN, but i don't. i think traffic enforcement cameras are good and should be expanded

I agree. People are welcome to go live "off-grid" if they want to live like we don't have 8.1 billion people on the planet. The rest of us are going to try to find ways to make it work.

If only we could live in completely separate jurisdictions.

A) everyone is already constantly surveilled via mobile networks and license plate readers, so surveillance is a moot point. We might as well get something out of it.

B) the system can be setup to purge and/or record only at relevant times or during infractions

That's kind of like justifying invading a country by saying "we have this big military so we might as well get something out of it."

"If you have a big gun, shoot it." (a.k.a. how the Great War started)

If you're want to operate a deadly vehicle in public you need to compromise, sorry.

Sounds like you're confused about the world you live in if you believe there aren't millions of cameras, many with ALPR capabilities, pointed at the street already.

I propose they be made actually useful instead of merely surveillance for surveillance sake, but I can see how that would feel oppressive to drivers accustomed to getting away with murder.

The child you hit might not share the same opinion.