Heidi Klum's boyfriend -- formerly known as "The Help" -- was pulled over in L.A. earlier today ... after cops caught him doing the same thing everyone in L.A. does all the time ... texting while driving.

TMZ has learned ... Martin Kristen was pulled over on the 405 Freeway near the Sunset exit ... after a California Highway Patrol officer noticed the guy texting while driving a black Mercedes Benz passenger van.

Cops tell us Martin was cited and sent on his way.

We're told Heidi was NOT in the car at the time of the incident ... and obviously, neither was Seal.