Man who proposed on freeway apologizes in court, receives sentence

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Thursday, July 7, 2016
Man who proposed sentenced
A man who proposed on a busy freeway has been sentenced in the case. Courtney Fischer reports

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- He proposed on the freeway. Now he's apologizing in court.

Vidal Valladares stopped traffic to ask for his girlfriend's hand in marriage.

Man shuts down busy stretch of I-45 to propose

But the expression of love landed Valladares in court.

In an unprecedented move, the judge in the case ordered Valladares to apologize on camera to the news crews at his court appearance today.

Valladares said, "I just wanted to apologize one more time. I know I put myself in a position of danger. I put a lot of people in danger on the highway. It was never my intention to put all these people in danger. My intentions were pure, I just wanted to do something different and obviously it was not the right decision."

Charge filed after I-45 shut down for marriage proposal

Today the judge in the case decided Valladares has to perform 32 hours of community service, and pay a $300 fine. He's also been ordered to take a defensive driving course and a take a "Making Better Decisions" course. He's also been ordered to report to a probation officer for 12 months and not do drugs or drink alcohol. If he fails to comply, he faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge and six months in jail.

Valladares said he plans to comply and apologized all over again.

In a similar roadway incident, two men are facing charges after they played a game of hoops in a busy feeder road.

Bail denied for man accused of stopping traffic to play hoops

Warrant out for men who played hoops on Houston street

Game of street hoops on busy Houston roadway