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).
Category Archives: moving violations
WHEN A TRAFFIC VIOLATION IS NOT A TRAFFIC VIOLATION
It’s not hard for police to justify a traffic stop. There are a host of potential traffic violations, and chances are, you’ve violated at least one of them. But not in every case. A recent Illinois Appellate case found that … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, traffic offenses
Tagged probable cause, traffic violation
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ILLINOIS GETS TOUGH ON TRAFFIC TICKETS WITH NEW LAW
A new Illinois law makes it tougher to ignore those routine traffic tickets. Before the new law, your ticket could be dismissed even if you didn’t show up for court. As long as the arresting officer or complaining witness were … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, suspensions, traffic offenses
Tagged failure to appear suspension, loss of driving privileges, suspension, traffic ticket, violation
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RECKLESS HOMICIDE IN ILLINOIS
You were just joyriding. You knew you were going way too fast in that neighborhood subdivision but it was late at night and you didn’t think anyone was around. But you hit a man walking his dog. Now you are … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, traffic offenses, Uncategorized
Tagged involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, reckless homicide
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2014 UPDATE TO ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW
For the third time since 2011, Illinois has stiffened the laws against speeding. Now, you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor if you speed 35 miles or more above the limit. Speeding first became criminalized as a misdemeanor … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, speeding, traffic offenses
Tagged class a misdemeanor, class b misdemeanor, speeding
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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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IMPROPER LANE USAGE IN ILLINOIS: A PATH TO DUI
After a few drinks at a party, you were driving home listening to your favorite CD, when you heard the siren behind you. The police pulled you over because you had crossed momentarily into the adjoining lane. Once stopped, the … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, traffic offenses, violation
Tagged crossing center line, crossing traffic lane, improper lane usage, probable cause
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PUT AWAY THAT PHONE!: NEW ILLINOIS TRAFFIC LAWS ON TEXTING AND PHONING
While Illinois has not completely banned cell phones while driving, new laws are limiting when and where you can use them. The new laws target hand-held devices. As of January 1, 2013, you may not use a hand-held device within … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, traffic offenses
Tagged cell phone, commercial drivers license, hand-held device, petty offense, texting, traffic ticket
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BE CAREFUL WHAT PEOPLE CAN SEE IN YOUR CAR! THE PLAIN VIEW EXCEPTION TO POLICE SEARCHES IN ILLINOIS
You ran a red light when the police officer pulled you over. After making the stop, the officer noticed some spoons and straws sticking out of your visor. The officer opened the visor. As it turns out, you stashed a … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, search of vehicle, speeding, traffic offenses
Tagged plain view exception, police searches, probable cause, warrantless searches
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NEW ILLINOIS LAW CRACKS DOWN ON SPEEDERS ONCE AGAIN
A new Illinois law has dropped the threshold for when your routine speeding ticket becomes a criminal offense. Speeding first became criminalized as a misdemeanor in 2011. Driving more than 31 miles over the limit was upgraded to a Class … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, speeding, traffic offenses, Uncategorized
Tagged class a misdemeanor, class b misdemeanor, excessive speeding, moving violation, speeding
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SPEEDING IN ILLINOIS: A PASSAGEWAY TO BIG TROUBLE
Legally, a police officer cannot pull over your car without some reason. This can come in the form of community caretaking, such as when the officer sees you sleeping in your car and checks to see if you are … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, speeding
Tagged driving under the influence, drunk driving, DUI, excessive speeding, moving violation, probable cause, speeding, speeding misdemeanors, traffic offenses, traffic stops, traffic tickets
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