SPRINGFIELD

— A man was arrested Tuesday evening after he allegedly blew through a stop sign and continued to

smoke pot

as a police officer questioned him.

Springfield police Officer J.B. Stern was looking for seat belt violators as part of the annual Click it or Ticket campaign when he spotted a white car drive through the stop sign at Leyfred and Woodside terraces around 7:40 p.m.

Not only did the driver not have his seat belt on, but he was smoking marijuana when Stern pulled him over in the Forest Park neighborhood, according to Sgt. John Delaney, police spokesman.

When 30-year-old Ricky Allende rolled down the car window, Stern was "covered in a plume of smoke," Delaney said.

According to Delaney, the following exchange occurred between the officer and suspect:

Allende, of 39 Central St., Springfield, was expected to be arraigned in Springfield District Court on charges of OUI-drugs, failure to obey a stop sign, and failure to wear a seat belt.

He also was issued a ticket for possession of an ounce or less of pot, said Delaney, adding that being "high and stupid is no way to go through life."