Car Business

Would you buy a used car from this retailer?Circuit City Stores Inc., the giant home electronics chain, startled Wall Street, auto dealers and much of the retail world yesterday with an announcement that it was going into the used-car business.The news, tucked near the end of a news release detailing the company's financial results, overshadowed a 38 percent increase in profits in Circuit City's fiscal fourth quarter."I was a little surprised that the media picked up on that when we announced earnings that were above expectations and described our keymarkets and plans for expansion, all of which will have a big impact on our business," said Ann Collier, Circuit City's spokeswoman.

Charles R. Leese acknowledges that the East Main Street reconstruction project in Westminster will improve Washington Road. But he says a right of way required for the project will put him out of the used car business."

When James Dunbar started his armored truck business in 1956, he had three goals: build up his fleet to eight trucks, fly in a Boeing 707 and drive a Cadillac.He has long since met those goals, but the 62-year-old businessman continues to set new objectives. His Federal Armored Express Inc. is the fourth-largest armored truck company in America and growing fast.Recently, the company acquired about 75 routes from the nation's third-largest armored carrier, Loomis Armored Inc."I want to be No. 2," Mr. Dunbar said, who at least for now does not aspire to overtake Brink's Inc., the largest armored truck company in the business with 1,300 cars in 43 states.

ANNAPOLIS -- Decorative pillow manufacturers, listen up. You may have to pay $100 more to the state so the health department can inspect your wares.Own a car? You may have to fork over an extra $8 the next time you register it. The money would help pay for the state's emergency helicopter fleet.Pest control firms, milk processors, summer camps, manufacturers of frozen desserts and egg packers may find themselves paying new or higher fees to the state government under legislation before the General Assembly this year.

A Harford County car dealer who was forced out of business last fall has been charged with theft for allegedly failing to satisfy the liens on traded-in cars after receiving money to retire the debts.The charges against R. Brooke Boyle, the former owner of Brooke Boyle Motor Cars Ltd., are contained in a 76-count indictment unsealed yesterday by Harford County State's Attorney Joseph I. Cassilly. The charges allege crimes between August 1988 and October 1989.Cassilly said the indictment includes 45 counts of theft involving more than $300,000.