The taxicab meter read $6.25 at 10.46 pm. Graysmith stated San Francisco had a high rate of $1.35 per 2 miles.
It is 3.1 miles from the Westin St Francis Hotel, near Mason and Geary to Washington and Cherry.
The fare charged should be $2.09.
The cab pulled up approximately 9.55 pm.
That means it idled, engine running for 51 minutes.
That means $4.16 clocked up while idle.
That is 8 cents per minute it is charging while the taxicab is stationary.
Does this sound right from your knowledge of USA taxicab pricing.
On a busy Saturday night the journey time is 14 minutes, the meter is charging 15 cents per minute while the taxicab is in motion, but approximately half the price when stationary. Sounds a bit steep.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a taxi but I seem to remember that there was a set amount already on the meter when getting in the taxi. In other words the ride did not start with $0.00 on the meter. It’s called a use fee today. Time and or mileage are charged on top of that amount. The use fee will account for a portion of the amount on the meter but I’m not sure how much.
Leave it to Seagull to have the answer to a difficult question! She’s our very own "Rainwoman". 
Thanks Seagull, I wish I could find the ‘set amount’ to verify the starting point.
I’m at a loss as to how to learn what the set amount would have been in 1969, too. I expect that the amount was different from city to city. A tourist town like San Francisco probably was more expensive than a working town like Vallejo, for instance.
