A solid state imaging device and method of operating the same includes an imaging section for converting incident light into a signal charge which is temporarily stored in a storage section before being read out. A vertical transfer register extends from an imaging section to a storage section. A transfer clock pulse is applied to a portion of the vertical transfer register disposed in the storage section such that the potential of the vertical transfer register in the storage section is deeper than that in the imaging section. Excess charge is transferred to a smear drain section. According to an alternate feature, the potential of the vertical transfer register within either the imaging section or the storage section is maintained constant. A further feature makes use of two drain regions disposed at respective distal ends of the imaging section and the storage section.