By Theresa Knapp 

On Jan. 3, 2022, the Massachusetts State Police discovered that Costa Auto Group and Patriots Custom Auto are not in compliance with their Class II licenses. 

A Class II license is required “for a person who is engaged principally and substantially in the business of buying, selling, or exchanging motor vehicles or trailers, maintains a facility dedicated to carrying out said business, and is open to the public,” according to state statute. 

On Jan. 4, a member of the Hopedale Police Department visited both establishments to speak with the owners. 

Costa Auto Group at 11 Airport Road has a license to operate primarily as an internet business, cannot display cars for sale outdoors, and cannot have more than 40 vehicles for sale on the premises at any one time. Police spoke with a company representative who said the State Police had investigated on Jan. 3 “because he was lending his dealer license plate to his friend at Patriots Custom Auto, Inc. and that was a violation of the rules and regulations of the dealer plate,” according to the police report.  

Hopedale Police also confirmed that five other businesses were being run out of that same location including ETS Equipment Rental (the main business), Costa Auto, Premium Framing, Costa Brothers Auto Transportation, and Premium Contracting.  

Down the road at 1B Airport Road, Patriot Custom Auto has a Class II license to buy and sell used cars. The permit allows for inside sales only, no more than five cars to be stored inside at a time, and no repairs to be done onsite. 

A Patriot representative said they are “just an internet car sales business” and they are also running a construction business, Patriot Construction, out of the same office. Hopedale Police observed two vehicles in the garage, one on a lift being repaired, and 12 cars on the property with only two of them being registered. 

 A Patriot representative said they were in the process of drafting “some paperwork for the town to change his business license restrictions,” according to the police report. 

The license violations were before the Select Board on Jan. 10 when the Board instructed the town’s Zoning Enforcement Officer Tim Aicardi (also the town’s Building Inspector) to start enforcing the current licensing and, if the business being operated is not allowed under the current license or by right, they are to cease and desist immediately until they are in compliance.