Parliament says traffic law changes will not cover old fines

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq’s parliamentary Legal Committee said planned changes to the traffic law will not apply retroactively, and fines recorded before the amendment is approved will continue to be collected. The committee said those fines are accrued state revenue and debt, and therefore cannot be canceled by law. It added that the proposed amendments are set to be discussed in parliament after the legislative recess ends. The committee said the authority to erase or reduce such fines belongs to the Iraqi Council of Ministers.