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
“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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THE COOK COUNTY VETERANS TREATMENT COURT HELPS VETERANS WITH DRUG, DUI OR OTHER NONVIOLENT CRIMES
As a veteran of the United States Military, you may qualify for a special program to help deal with your criminal or DUI charges. The Cook County Veterans Treatment Court program aims to prevent veterans from returning to the criminal … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged veterans DUI, veterans offenses, Veterans Treatment Court
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WHY HASN’T MY ILLINOIS DUI BEEN DISMISSED WHEN THE COP IS NOT IN COURT?
You were charged with DUI, and you’ve been to court maybe six times. Not once have you seen the officer who arrested you. Meanwhile, you’ve watched other cases get dismissed because a witness or even an officer didn’t show. Why … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged driving under the influence, drunk driving, DUI, DUI arrest
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WHY YOU SHOULD FIGHT YOUR ILLINOIS DUI–EVEN IF YOU LIVE OUT OF STATE
Back in the early United States, if you didn’t like the person you married, you could simply move to another state and marry someone else. No one would ever know. But the world has changed a lot since then. Technology … Continue reading
Posted in driving on a suspended license, out of state dui, suspensions
Tagged conviction, driving on a suspended license, DUI arrest, license suspension, loss of driving privileges, non-resident DUI, out of state dui, secretary of state suspension, supervision
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THEY TESTED MY BLOOD? CAN I STILL DEFEND MY ILLINOIS DUI?
You thought you were driving just fine, even after a few beers, but then you got into a car crash. You were injured and taken to the hospital. Police asked if they could test your blood for alcohol, and you … Continue reading
Posted in DUI testing
Tagged blood alcohol content, blood testing, evidence
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