Fixed fines, compound fines and fines imposed for breach of the insurance obligation provided for in article L. 211-1, including fines which a pardon would have replaced imprisonment, are subject to a surcharge of 50% levied, when they are recovered, for the benefit of the Guarantee Fund instituted by article L. 420-1.
If the civil court is seised of a serious dispute relating to the existence or validity of the insurance, the criminal court called upon to rule on the prosecution for breach of the insurance obligation shall stay its proceedings until a final ruling has been made on the dispute.
The provisions of this article do not apply when the civil liability insurance concerns vehicles normally based in the territory of a State referred to in article L. 211-4 with the exception of France and Monaco.