This driver in downtown Vancouver appears to be using a cellphone while driving, which would be contrary to provincial law. (CBC)

Hundreds of traffic tickets have been issued to drivers using handheld cellphones in the few months that it's been illegal to dial and drive in B.C., Vancouver police say.

Officers wrote 251 tickets in February for the offences of using an electronic device while driving and for texting or emailing while driving. In March, that number went up to 464 tickets, for a total of 715.

The provincial law came into effect Jan.1, but authorities decided to issue only warnings — not tickets — to drivers for the first month.

There will be no letting up, according to one Vancouver officer who was issuing the $167 citations Friday.

"There is going to be regular enforcement," said Const Mike Lynch. "I think the general motoring public agrees you can't be on your cellphone and be concentrating."

Hands-free phones are legal to use but only for drivers with at least two years driving experience. "Novice drivers," as they are called in B.C., are not allowed to use cellphones of any kind.

The Insurance Corp. of British Columbia could not say with certainty that a province-wide drop in crash claims in February and March can be attributed to the cellphone restriction.

There were 17,400 vehicle accident claims in February, down 2,200, or about 11 per cent, from February 2009. The 18,600 claims in March marked a drop of 13.5 per cent over March 2009.

Better than average weather in those two months in most of the province likely had a major impact. But an ICBC spokesman said the cellphone law it could be a contributing factor.

"The new legislation in place on the cell phone rules is certainly hopefully having an impact as well," said senior media relations adviser Adam Grossman.

With files from the CBC's Eric Rankin