Matthew David Keenan Law Blog

Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to make or take a controlled substance is a Class A Misdemeanor in Illinois.... Read More

Under certain circumstances, Illinois police can require you to submit to blood alcohol testing, but they cannot physically force you to give the sample.... Read More

Even if you are not intoxicated, you could fail the three main field sobriety tests used by police officers in Illinois due to a variety of factors.... Read More

In Illinois, underage possession or consumption of alcohol is a Class A Misdemeanor for both the person providing the alcohol and the underage drinker.... Read More

Illinois has one of the strictest eavesdropping laws in the country.  If you record a police officer, judge, prosecutor or attorney general without permission, you could be charged with a felony.... Read More

The breathalyzer test for Driving While Under the Influence measures the molecules of alcohol in your breath.  As such, a variety of factors can throw off the results.... Read More

Even if you live out of state, an Illinois DUI arrest can create difficulties for you in your home state.  Your home state could still arrestyou  for failing to appear in the Illinois court, and your home state drivers license could still be affected.... Read More

One Illinois police department is already using automated camera readers that detect whether the license plate of your car is associated with an arrest warrant.  Once the reader finds a match, nearby officers move in for the arrest.  If you are arrested, tell police "I wish to remain silent and I wish to have an attorney" to trigger Miranda rights.  You should contact an experienced criminal law attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options.... Read More

A speeding ticket or other moving violation can give the police the window they need to look for evidence of other crimes. ... Read More

In Illinois, if you threaten to harm a police officer, you can be charged with aggravated assault.  Actually causing physical harm to the officer is known as aggravated battery.  Fire a gun, and you could be looking at a minimum 20-year prison term.  Judges and prosecutors treat these offenses against police very seriously.  But there may still be hope.  An experienced criminal law attorney can help you come up with a strategy for your defense.... Read More