A Texas man made national news when he took a unique approach to proposing marriage to his girlfriend. However, what started as an act of love resulted in authorities filing state crime charges against the man. Although he is out on bond, it is possible that the charges he faces could put a damper on his marriage plans.
The proposal took place on Interstate 45 when the man dropped down to one knee and asked his now-fiance for her hand in marriage. Traffic was reportedly backed up at that point, and car horns can reportedly be heard on a video of that was taken of the proposal. Cars apparently resorted to passing on the shoulder of the roadway in order to get around the happy couple.
Unfortunately, one of those passing motorists happened to be an officer who was off-duty at the time, and he provided an eyewitness account of the proposal to investigators who were checking out the traffic back up. The man was ultimately charged for obstructing the highway, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He turned himself in voluntarily and later posted the necessary $500 to be released on bond.
Although he did surrender voluntarily, he claims that he did not choose the spot to propose on a whim. Rather, it was indeed a place with significant meaning. Despite this, state crime charges for obstructing a highway can result in a permanent criminal record if convicted, which can have a significant impact on future employment or educational opportunities. No matter the severity of the charges, most defendants in Texas are well advised to begin constructing the foundation for their defense in as timely a manner as possible in order to pursue the best outcome possible for their unique situation.
Source: click2houston.com, “Man who made marriage proposal on I-45 charged“, Robert Arnold, Dec. 14, 2015
