Protected Interest in Traffic Crimes Under the Laws in Force in Iraq: A Comparative Analytical Study

This research analyzes the protected interests in traffic crimes under current Iraqi legislation. It presents a legal and analytical study focusing on the legal definition, characteristics, and the rationale behind criminalizing traffic violations. The study begins by defining traffic crime from linguistic, jurisprudential, legislative, and judicial perspectives, highlighting the lack of a clear and unified definition in most Arab legal systems.The research identifies core characteristics of traffic crimes: they stem from unlawful human behavior that causes bodily or material harm and often involve both criminal and administrative penalties. A key focus is placed on the protected interests, such as the protection of life, public and private property, public orderAnd the research finds that Iraqi legislation lacks a clear legal definition of traffic crime, despite its frequent occurrence and societal impact, traffic crimes are subject to dual penalties—both criminal and administrative, and Iraqi traffic laws require reform to explicitly address environmental and economic protections, aligning with modern societal needs.