St. Helena, California, Cracks Down on Illegal Inns

According to the St. Helena Star, the St. Helena, California, Planning Department is "launching a full-scale war" against illegal bed and breakfasts. Illegal inns don't pay taxes, giving them an unfair competitive advantage over those who operate legally. From a traveler's perspective, illegal inns are a risk because they aren't subject to the same level of inspection as legally registered inns -- which may lead to unhealthy or even dangerous conditions.