By the look of it Gene Deckard is ready for a round of golf.

But if you look closer Gene is also ready for fishing and maybe a trip to the store.

"It's good to go to the grocery store just to go any place in this town," he said.

Gene isn't alone. Many residents of Sullivan County are using golf carts instead of cars and trucks to get around.

"It's easier and affordable and a means of transportation and popular here and i think because of the economy related to gasoline they are here to stay," said Sullivan Mayor Scott Biddle.

But while the popularity of golf carts in Sullivan is speeding along Indiana State Police say they want to put on the brakes.

"Technically if you are operating a golf cart for any reason on a public roadway in Indiana you are violating state law," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts. "I think there is an illusion for some golf cart owners that since the city has passed an ordinance to allow then to use it on a city street that they can use it but that they don't know is that city and county ordinances don't supersede state law."

The Indiana law regulates that each golf cart needs to have headlights and a turn signal, in the inside it needs to have a horn and restraints both for the driver and passenger and for the back they all need to have a license plate and a slow moving vehicle emblem.

"State law states that they cannot be on public roadways unless they are registered the catch to that is to be able to be operated on a public roadway in Indiana they have to be plated but the BMV will not plate them if it does not meet the standards of a motor vehicle," said Watts.

Many golf carts out there don't meet the standard; meaning driving them without a BMV plate is illegal.

State Police say they have no other option but to uphold the law.

The penalty for driving a golf cart on a public street is around $100.

That can be more if the officer has the vehicle towed.