ABOUT ME
Matt Keenan
Se habla español.
A criminal and school law attorney with over 24 years of experience, I have successfully represented clients all over the Chicago area. My practice includes DUI, felony, criminal, misdemeanor, homicide, internet crime, retail theft, traffic offenses, cyberstalking, drug crimes, weapons violations, domestic battery and juvenile crime. I also represent families involving school cases. My clients come from all over the Chicago area including Skokie, Wilmette, Niles, Northbrook, Glenview, Evanston, Winnetka, Highland park, Northfield, Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Mount Prospect. I am a member of the ACLU, Illinois State Bar Association.
We wrote the chapters on DEFENSES and ARRESTS AND INVESTIGATORY STOPS.
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Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).We wrote the chapters on SEARCH and SEIZURE, MOTIONS AND DISCOVERY, and EVIDENTIARY MATTERS GENERALLY.
Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).
Author Archives: mdkeenan
“BUT HE CUT ME OFF!”: THE ILLINOIS LAW ON ROAD RAGE
You just saw red. When the other driver cut you off, you got so mad you rammed his car. Now, for that few seconds of road rage, you are charged with reckless driving. In Illinois, a person commits reckless driving … Continue reading
Posted in traffic offenses
Tagged aggravated reckless driving, reckless driving, road rage
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“HOW DID I DO?”: EVALUATING DUI VIDEO EVIDENCE
Many police department, including Chicago, Niles, Morton Grove and Skokie, require police to video traffic stops if their car is equipped with a camera. The video should be the most accurate record of how you performed on field sobriety tests. … Continue reading
Posted in breathalyzer/field sobriety test, DUI evidence, DUI testing
Tagged DUI evidence, DUI video, field sobriety test, Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, one-leg stand test, walk and turn test
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BECAUSE THEY CAN: THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S DISCRETIONARY POWER TO SUSPEND YOUR LICENSE
We can all agree that the Secretary of State has a valid interest in keeping the roads safe. As part of that interest, Illinois law has given the Secretary of State broad power to suspend a person’s driver’s license for … Continue reading
Posted in suspensions
Tagged accident, discretionary summary suspension, driving on a suspended license, mandatory summary suspension, secretary of state, traffic violations
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DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CANNABIS OR DRUGS IN ILLINOIS
In Illinois, there are several ways of charging you with driving under the influence of marijuana or cannabis. With one exception, however, the state may have difficulty proving you were actually impaired. If you were driving after smoking pot you … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged driving under the influence of cannabis, driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of marijuana, DUI cannabis, DUI drugs, DUI marijuana
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“CAN THEY REALLY STOP ME FOR THAT?” OBSTRUCTED WINDSHIELDS, IMPROPER LICENSE PLATE DISPLAY, AND OTHER MINOR OFFENSES
UPDATED July 25, 2023: As of January 1, 2024, police will no longer be able to stop you for something hanging from your front windshield. While you may not drive a motor vehicle with any objects suspended between you and … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, moving violations, probable cause, speeding, traffic offenses, violation
Tagged improper license plate display, obstructed mirror, probable cause, traffic stop, traffic tickets, violation
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BUT IT’S MY FIRST DUI! DOESN’T THAT MATTER?
You’ve never been in trouble before. This DUI is your first arrest of any kind. Doesn’t that help? The answer is yes and no. A first offender may be eligible for a lighter sentence than a repeat offender. However, your … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged bad character, character, first offense, good character
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CAN THEY TAKE MY BLOOD? THE EMERGENCY ROOM EXCEPTION
Previous posts have discussed how police may take your blood with or without your consent after a DUI-related accident. But police can also obtain blood or urine results from you under the emergency room exception. Blood or urine tests for … Continue reading
Posted in DUI testing
Tagged blood alcohol content, blood testing, dui testing, emergency room exception
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THE LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS VETERANS COURT FOR DUI AND OTHER NON-VIOLENT CRIMES
A day in the Lake County Veteran’s Treatment and Assistance Court (VTAC) begins with the very compassionate Judge John Phillips selecting one of the veterans to lead the pledge of allegiance. After that, Judge Phillips hears status updates from veterans … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged alternative program, sentencing, veterans court
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CAN THEY SEARCH MY CAR AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP IN ILLINOIS?
You got pulled over for a traffic violation. The cop thought he smelled alcohol, and after some tests, you were charged with DUI. After they put you in the police car, the officers began searching the passenger compartment of your … Continue reading
Posted in search of vehicle, traffic offenses
Tagged driving on a suspended, search incident to arrest, search warrant, speeding, traffic offense, traffic violation
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CHEATING YOUR CAR’S BREATHALYZER DEVICE JUST GOT HARDER IN ILLINOIS
Some DUI defendants qualify for a breath activated ignition interlock device (BAIID). The device allows you to drive as long as you blow into a breathalyzer. If you are intoxicated, the car will not start. Some drivers evade this requirement … Continue reading
Posted in breathalyzer/field sobriety test, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged BAIID, breath alcohol ignition interlock device, monitoring device driving permit, violation, violation of probation
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