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.
.
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: traffic offenses
CAN YOU BE STOPPED FOR MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE FAR LANE?
You noticed the officer’s car behind you. You’d had a few drinks but your driving was really spot on. Then you made a left turn into the far lane of an intersection. The officer signals you to pull over. He … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, probable cause, traffic offenses
Comments Off on CAN YOU BE STOPPED FOR MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE FAR LANE?
CAN POLICE USE A DOG TO SNIFF YOUR CAR?
If police stop you for a traffic violation, they don’t need a reason to change the reason they stopped you. For example, they can stop you for speeding but then bring in a narcotics dog to sniff your car. However, … Continue reading
Posted in DUI evidence, search of vehicle, traffic offenses
Tagged dog sniff, narcotics, probable cause, search and seizure, traffic stop
Comments Off on CAN POLICE USE A DOG TO SNIFF YOUR CAR?
EXTRADITION TO ILLINOIS: THE UNFINISHED CRIMINAL CASE
With ever-expanding access to information, police in one state can easily learn about any criminal charges you have open in another state. And that can lead to extradition. Extradition means you could be arrested in your current state and brought … Continue reading
Posted in traffic offenses
Tagged extradition, traffic stop, unfinished sentence, violation of sentence
Comments Off on EXTRADITION TO ILLINOIS: THE UNFINISHED CRIMINAL CASE
“I DIDN’T KNOW I’D HIT ANYONE”: LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS
Illinois law requires that any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident must stay at the scene, file a police report and/or call for assistance. The law further requires that you reasonably assist any injured person including carrying that person … Continue reading
Posted in traffic offenses
Tagged failure to assist, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene
Comments Off on “I DIDN’T KNOW I’D HIT ANYONE”: LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS
CAN THE POLICE ASK FOR MY DRIVER’S LICENSE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP?
The answer is yes. Recent U.S. and Illinois Supreme Court cases have held that a request for a driver’s license is reasonable regardless of the reason for the stop. Before 2005, police could not change the nature of a traffic … Continue reading
Posted in probable cause, traffic offenses
Tagged traffic stop
Comments Off on CAN THE POLICE ASK FOR MY DRIVER’S LICENSE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP?
COOK COUNTY JUDGE CHALLENGES ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW
(UPDATE – June 16, 2016 – In People v Rizzo, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the law denying supervision to first-time excessive speeders does not violate the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution.) A Cook County Circuit Court … Continue reading
Posted in speeding, traffic offenses
Tagged excessive speeding, speeding, speeding misdemeanors
Comments Off on COOK COUNTY JUDGE CHALLENGES ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW
UPDATE TO ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW: THE CRACKDOWN CONTINUES
As of January 1, 2016, Illinois is toughening its speeding laws once again. This time, the legislature has created the offense of aggravated special speed limit. Aggravated special speed limit applies to school and construction zones. If you drive 26 … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, speeding, traffic offenses
Tagged excessive speeding, speeding
Comments Off on UPDATE TO ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW: THE CRACKDOWN CONTINUES
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
Comments Off on WHEN A TRAFFIC VIOLATION IS NOT A TRAFFIC VIOLATION
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
Comments Off on ILLINOIS GETS TOUGH ON TRAFFIC TICKETS WITH NEW LAW
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
Comments Off on RECKLESS HOMICIDE IN ILLINOIS