This was a moment a California driver threw a lit cigarette out of the window while a police cruiser was close behind his vehicle.

Footage captured on Tuesday (April 23) near the Chino Hills area of Los Angeles, shows the driver littering a butt from his car window.

An officer driving on a lane alongside the culprit’s, spots the offence and moves in and swiftly signals for the driver to stop with the flashing lights.

The filmer said: "My girlfriend and I were driving to KFC, normal day when suddenly I see the driver in front of me throw the lit cig out his window.

"The driver didn't see the cop on the left side, and immediately after the cigarette flare, the cop cut in front of me turned on his lights, and pulled him over."

My girlfriend and I were driving to KFC, normal day, when suddenly I see the driver in front of me throw the lit cig out his window. The driver didn't see the cop on the left side, and immediately after the cigarette flare, the cop cut in front of me, turned on his lights, and pulled him over.

The video was recorded from the Tesla Model 3 dashcam, which constantly records, and saves the clip if I press the button on the screen.

Video was taken 4/23/2019, in Chino Hills, CA.