Halloween Night – the WeHo Halloween Carnival had ended and it was nearly impossible to get a cab on Melrose Ave just east of San Vicente. At 11:55 p.m. Yellow Cab #6382 driven by HRANT MEGRERIAN, pulled over and the cabby asked me where I was going and I told him I needed to go to Genesee Ave and Santa Monica Blvd (approx. $12 based on the many times I’ve taken a cab home). The driver instantly told me it would be $30. I told that was ludicrous and he was breaking the law. Incidentally, his meter was on and defiantly functioning. In a terse tone, he told me; “If you want a ride it will cost $30 and I’m not using the meter.”. I got in the cab and told him to turn on the meter. He then said, “I’m off duty – get out”. I then called the WeHo Sheriff's dept and when an officer arrived I told him what had transpired. The officer became angry with the cabby and told him he wasn’t welcome to do business in WeHo and that gauging customers was illegal. I flagged down another cab from the same location, went home and the metered fare was $13 + tip.