The penalties for getting caught driving after you've lost your license almost always include jail. When you stand before a judge, having been caught driving on a suspended or revoked license, you're giving the court a message that you don't respect their authority or the authority of society. In return, the judge will send you a message back.

The judge will let you know, usually with a jail sentence, that you must abide by the rules of society. In most cases, hiring a lawyer can greatly reduce the consequenes of a charge of driving with a suspended or revoked license.

If you need to drive to work or as part of your job, to school or to medical care, you may be eligible for a hardship driver's license. An attorney can help you to determine if this is an option in your case.

A license suspension or revocation lasts for a fixed period of time. At the end of that period, your license does not automatically come back to you. It's up to you to apply for reinstatement.

To have your license reinstated, you'll have to provide the licensing authority with certain documents. These may include and SR 22 and /or a certificate of insurance. You may also have to attend driving school or pay damages to an injured party if your case involved an accident that was your fault. In all cases, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee. This fee will vary depending on how and why your license was suspended or revoked. Again, your license never, ever comes back automatically. You must take some action.

An attorney can help you with the paperwork and shorten the process. And whatever you do, don't drive if your license has been suspended or revoked.