Welcome to
JODA COLLINS
DRIVING ACADEMY LLC
Behind-the-Wheel Training
Serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties since 2008!
850 981-3355
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Before I will quote a price for my services, a client (the financially responsible person) must read, at least, the red print of this Contract (Contract Four) and all of Contract Six
CONTRACT FOUR
BASICS April 5, 2025 Edited for clarification 9/9/25. No facts or figures changed. TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1: LIMITED LIABILITY CLAUSES
SECTION 2: COMMUNICATION
SECTION 3: CONTRACT(S) / LEGAL DOCUMENTS
A. IDENTIFICATION
B. CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS
SECTION 4: FINANCES/MONEY
SECTION 5: TRAINING SPECIFICS SECTION 6: LESSONS TWO AND FOLLOWING
SECTION 7: SCHEDULING SECTION 8: STEERING
SECTION 1. LIMITED LIABILITY CLAUSES
A. If you are not the student-driver and your contractual agreement allows you to ride for lesson one (or beyond), if you
would not ride in roller coaster, do not ride or be in a driver's training vehicle and/or during driver's training; in both cases (roller coaster and during training) you are taking an assumed risk at your own risk. You (the Client) and you (the Student-driver) agree not to hold Joda Collins and/or the Joda Collins Driving Academy responsible for any physical, emotional or psychological damage, real or imagined, that occurs during training relative to but not limited to any steering, braking or acceleration that is not associated with a crash and said crash must incur, at least, $200 property/vehicle damage regardless of who is behind-the-wheel, who is steering, braking or accelerating. When, in a client's vehicle, the vehicle owner assumes all liability including all liability that is over and above car owner's maximum insurance limit
B. Even if we are using a vehicle that is not mine (Joda Collins) I reserve the right to intervene in any way that I think best adheres to traffic laws and/or for our safety. Being the owner or driver of a vehicle that does not belong to me, does not give the driver the right to put my life in danger and keep it there.
C. If you are using a vehicle that is not the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle, the registered owner assumes all vehicle liability no matter who is driving, steering, braking and/or behind-the-wheel, including Joda Collins CEO of the Joda Collins Driving Academy LLC.
D. Under no conditions will a missed appointment or appointments incur any liability in excess of the liability specified in print in my legal documents.
E. EMAILS
(1). Its' eazy two make uh misstake inn ann emale. Anything and everything in any email is null and void (in error) if it is in contradiction to the content of an applicable legal document found on this page (www.jodacollins.com - Agreement page), unless:
(a). The email specifically denotes the email content is in place of and supersedes the Contract(s) and/or legal documents information or my Contract specifically states that certain statements in an email can take priority over relevant statements in the or a Contract.
(2). If the mistake is discovered both AFTER the payment is made, AFTER the training for that payment is completed but within 90-days of the date of the most recent paid for and completed service (training appointment), and ONLY if the correction would be to the betterment (benefit) of the Client and/or the Student-driver
(3). Mistakes discovered 91 or more days after most recent paid for service is rendered, will not be corrected no matter who would benefit from the correction. Statute of Limitations is 91-days. Everything, except murder, has a statute of limitations.
(4). If you do not get an email reminder by 8:30pm the day before your appointment, there IS a scheduling problem EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED A REMINDER/ CONFIRMATION BEFORE 12:01AM THE DAY BEFORE YOUR DRIVING APPOINTMENT. Please call 850 981-3355 or email jodacollins@aol.com to discover the problem so I can try to resolve the difficulty.
F. NOTICE
Without your phone call or email, with at least a two-hour notice, I may not be able to resolve the difficulty, and I will not assume any responsibility or liability, financially or otherwise, for the missed lesson.
G. Clients and student-drivers will not hold me, Joda Collins CEO or the Joda Collins Driving Academy LLC, responsible for any charge, discomfort or loss that arises from the Client and/or the student-driver not understanding any signed and/or agreed to legal document or any negative ramifications because the Client did not check for my emails, at least, once every 24-hours until our business is 100% completed.
H. I (Joda Collins) do not operate my business today like I did when I first started it in 2008, nor like I did last year. I am constantly working to improve. I operate my business like a man applying 17-years of experience in this business. I will probably not operate my business like you would. Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt and credit for learning better how to operate my business in my 17-years concentrated effort and learning. Everything I do is designed to benefit the Client and the Student-driver as much as reason will allow me to do so.
SECTION 2. COMMUNICATION
A. I ONLY DO BUSINESS WITH CLIENT (financially responsible person) on matters that deal with Legal Documents (Contracts), scheduling or fees. Do not provide me any email address you do not want a, "Copy to," sent sometimes or at all times.
B. LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND CONCEPTS
(1). I will not train a student if there is no agreement between the student-driver and the Client, and/or co-Client, and/or responsible and/or representative adult, regarding the driver training goal or goals.
C. TELEPHONE
(1). After the Contract is offered, to avoid misunderstandings conducive to detailed information shared verbally, I will not make or return phone calls to address anything relative to scheduling, service or fees; however, I will respond to any questions about fees, scheduling or service by email for free until all Legal Documents are approved.
(2). I have an administrative office; however, I do all business by phone, voice mail, email or US Postal System.
SECTION 3. CONTRACT(S) / LEGAL DOCUMENTS
A. MY (JODA COLLINS) MAJOR LEGAL PREMISES
1. I have no verbal agreements.
2. Lawlessness is forbidden.
A. Do not break any County, State, or Federal laws.
(1). It is illegal to accept money from a person:
(a). Without having a binding contract identifying the mutual benefits and obligations, and
(b). Having reasonable evidence that the signature on the Contract is the valid signature of the Client.
(1). This is accomplished by having the Client sign my copy of the Contract in my presence or having the Contract signature notarized.
3. Have a reasonable expectation or evidence that my pre-agreement correspondence is with the actual Client.
A. The easiest way and faster way to do this is for me to communicate with the Client via his or her email.
B. CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT
(1). I do expect a person to be gracious towards me if I remind him or her of something in the Legal Documents, he or she forgot but dislikes, did not read, or did read but did not understand.
(2). I reserve the right to create and propose a Contract that is different from my on-line/website Contract. However, any concepts, facts or figures in said Contract must be identified as "different" compared to the on-line/website Contract(s).
(3). All parties reserve the right to terminate service for any reason, expressed or not. Termination does not relieve any party from any financial obligation except as specified in the Legal Documents.
(4). I (Joda Collins) reserve the right to require a signed and notarized paper Contract and full payment in my possession before scheduling any service.
(5). It is the Client's responsibility to keep the Student-driver apprised of all relative matters. It is the Student-driver's responsibility to keep apprised by the Client of all matters the Client deems important for the Student to know.
(6). Contracts and/or contract proposals, including fee quotes and service designations, are guaranteed for:
(a). Thirty-days from my (Joda Collins) first email quotes or references fees.
(b). Thirty-days from the most recent payment.
(c). Ninety-days from the most recent completed lesson.
(7). I (Joda Collins) will not assume any responsibility, financially or otherwise, except as demanded by civil law, for any ramifications of a driver that drives after sunset with a permit with an issue date of 91-days or less from the training date.
(8). I (Joda Collins) reserve the right to ask the client, the parent or spouse of the driver, and/or the student-driver if the student-driver has ADD, ADhD, Autism or anything else that might affect our safety. You, do not have to answer that question. If you do NOT want me to ask that question, it is YOUR responsibility to X this paragraph out of my copy of the Contract (not just your copy) and confirm your position in an email BEFORE the start of the first lesson. In addition, it is your responsibility, as the client, that I (Joda Collins) X this paragraph out on your copy of this Contract, and secure my signature next to this Xed out paragraph.
(9). If you do not know what a 3-in-3 driver is, you are not one. If you are a 3-in-3 driver, a student of the Vocational Rehabilitation, or a student of Families First, skip this Section. Otherwise, continue reading. I will provide a non-binding estimate of future progress denoting how many more lessons I think might be needed for the student-driver to reach his or her stated driving goal(s), if that estimate is requested and, only if, the Client (if not the same person as the driver) rides during the first 15 to 30-minutes of the first lesson. I no longer allow riders after lesson one, under any circumstances.
(10). Unless otherwise arranged, the start location for session one is 3804 Garcon Point Road, Milton, FL 32583, which is one tenth of one mile off of I-10 at Exit 26. This is a mailing address only and not a business address.
(11). I have permanent vocal cord damage from severe, near death, Covid19 in December of 2019, so the more I talk, the more likely I will cough but you cannot catch vocal cord damage from a cough. If I put a cough drop in my mouth and stop talking for about 30-seconds, I stop coughing. You cannot catch vocal cord damage from a cough.
(12). The maximum legal passenger weight for my training vehicle is 800 pounds with no more than 400 pounds on each side of the vehicle and no more than 280 pounds per power/hydraulic seat (front seats). If I think you are in excess of 280 pounds, I have a scale in my trunk if you are willing to step on it as proof. No offense is intended. A bar tender checks ID before serving a drink because he can lose his liquor license. A grocery store clerk checks ID before selling tobacco because of a large possible fine. Allow me the same consideration because of hydraulic damage and because of the legal weight limits of my vehicle. I will train a person in excess of 280 pounds in any other insured vehicle. In addition, if a driver is under 280 pounds but has a body configuration that does not allow the driver to safely fit into my mid-sized vehicle or steer with reasonable safety, I will teach said driver in any insured vehicle other than mine.
(13). If you are using any vehicle other than the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle, I (Joda Collins) must have a Waiver of Liability signed by the registered owner. Registered owner has two options. (a). He or she can be present at the first meeting and sign that Waiver in my presence, or
(b). He or she can sign the Waiver in the presence of a notary and mail that document to me. If the registered owner selects this (b) option, let me know and I will provide my mailing address. (c). Often, a driver wants to use a vehicle that is not registered in the Driver's name. To do so I must have proof that the Driver is insured to drive said vehicle, not just that the vehicle has insurance.
(14). DISCLAIMER A. Nothing in an email, including facts and figures, is valid or authoritative unless said facts and figures agree with my Contract(s). Only Contracts, found on my web site and/or in paper form, signed by all parties are authoritative. It is eazy too make mustake inn uh emale.
B. If there is a discrepancy between the signed paper Contracts and the online, website Contract(s), the online, website Contacts are the final authority. Please verify all details on a paper copy of your Contract with the website Legal Documents Contract(s).
SECTION 4: FINANCES/MONEY
A. If you, the Client (financially responsible person), have any questions, just ask via email unless other arrangements are made and approved. Asking before you agree to the Contract(s) is FREE. After a client agrees to and/or signs a Contact additional inquiry about legal matters, fees, scheduling and/or service is NOT free.
B. Payment, in part or in total, is tacit agreement to all Legal Documents, however, a signed Contract in the presence of all signers, unless otherwise arranged, is still required.
C. Cancellation, except for fear of adverse weather, with less than a two-hour notice, does incur a charge. Check your Contract (Six, Seven or Eleven, whichever is yours) for details.
D. When you consider my charges, consider this: In 2024, my take home pay was $12.18 per hour with no benefits such as paid vacation, no medical or dental insurance, no sick days off with pay, no 401K, and nothing else. When you consider my charges, please take into account my less than impressive income and the life and death challenges of what I do for a living. If I wasn't working 60-hours per week and have a small second income, I could not make a living at the Drivng Academy alone. If I did not feel like my service saves limbs and lives, I would not do this.
E. PRICE GUARANTEE
(1). CHARGES/FEES are guaranteed for 30-days from the first inquiry, 30-days from your registered approval of the Contracts, then 30-days from a price quote shown in an email, and then 90-days from your most recent lesson.
F. REFUNDS
(1). I do not refund money for services already completed. Such as, but not limited to:
(a). Registration Fees.
(b). Scheduling Fees.
(c). Fees I incur relative to credit/debit card charges.
(1). My total credit/debit card fees average about 7%. For example, if I charge $500 for training, my credit/debit card expense is about $35.00. If a person wants a refund, I do not refund the money it costs me in card charges. I will refund $465 by removing $465 from the charge through the credit card company. However, for refunds I get charged 4%. Four percent of $500 is $20.00. Therefore, the refund will be $500 minus the initial expense of $35 minus my charge for the refund of $20.00. Thus the refund will be $500 minus $35 = $465 minus $20 = $445.00. (2). To put this in a percent figure, if a charge $100, it cost me $7 for the initial charge and $4 for the refund. That is $11 out of $100.00. That is 11%.
(3). When I accept payment via a card (credit or debit), the maximum refund is 89% of the legal refund amount.
G. I do not accept prepayment for unscheduled lessons. I do allow scheduling of lessons for 60-days in advance, without payment.
H. For the first lesson, I accept cashier's check, money order or Visa/MasterCard Credit/Debit card but not cash. For lessons two and following, I accept all of the above, and/or cash, and (upon approval) personal or business check.
J. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OR GRADUATION FEE (Certificate is Optional).............................................$19
K. Late or No Arrival Charge (1). Late arrival, beyond 10-minutes, no matter the reasons, including reasons that are not your fault, including Acts of God (no one's fault such as car trouble or a traffic jam), is charged at $1 (one dollar) per minute starting with the first minute, not to exceed the full charge of the lesson, including door-to-door fee, if any, unless the lesson is cut short by the amount of time equal to the late arrival. This is not a penalty charge, but a recognition that life is time and being late is a waste of other people's lives. Time is money because life is limited by time, therefore, time = life and life has value.
(2). This fee is paid by me (Joda Collins) to the Client, if I am late. My Client's and Driver's time are just as valuable as mine.
(3). If a student's late arrival (for a lesson not canceled in time to avoid charges) is after the scheduled ending time for the lesson, the lesson is forfeited along with the fee, and the fee noted in (1) or (2) above does not apply.
(4). No-show and no-call. (a). If a driver misses a lesson and the client does not call or email at least one-hour in advance to cancel, the client is charged full price for the missed lesson, plus the door-to-door fees, if any. (b). If I (Joda Collins) miss an appointment, and I do not call or email at least one-hour in advance to cancel, the client is refunded the charge, including door-to-door fees, if any, or not charged for the next lesson if there is a next lesson (assuming the next lesson incurs the same charge).
SECTION 5: TRAINING SPECIFICS A. THOSE I WILL NOT TEACH IN MY VEHICLE
In my vehicle, I will not teach students who, consistently, do not or cannot follow simple one-step instructions such as, "Slow down," "Accelerate," "Look over your left shoulder," or "Begin breaking." However, I will consider teaching such students in any other vehicle the driver is insured to drive.
B. PARKING AND THREE-POINT TURN
(1). Unless otherwise agreed on and stated in writing BEFORE the approval of the Agreement (Contract), the three-point turn training is accomplished in any other vehicle than mine, wherein the student-driver is insured. However, if the Client changes his or her mind after signing the Contract, the Joda Collins Driving Academy Vehicle is available for parking and/or the three-point turn, for the fee noted in your specified Contract (Six, Seven or Ten). (2). I will teach the three-point turn in my vehicle ONLY after a driver has memorized the steps for the three-point turn well enough to quote them without hesitation or error and upon request.
(3). It is 100% the responsibility of the Client to let me know if and when three-point turn training will occur.
(4). Any student of mine that graduates my Pass the State Driving Exam Course and passes the State Driving Exam, except for the three-point turn part of the training, can secure additional training from me at no charge, excluding any door-to-door fees, for up to one-hour in the vehicle the driver used or will be using for the next State exam. This offer is limited to 10-months from the date of the most recent completed driving lesson. Service value only. No cash value. Offer is expired if I am no longer in business.
(5). There are two vehicles that can be used for the three-point turn training; the Joda Collins Driving Academy Vehicle or any other vehicle provided by any other person as long as the student-driver is insured to drive that vehicle.
(6). There are two people that can teach the three-point turn to the Student-driver; Joda Collins, during paid driving time or any other person any other time. I will teach anyone to teach the three-point turn for the standard training fee.
(7). There are two ways to learn to do a three-point turn. One is muscle memory learning where the student does the three-point turn over and over and over and over and over and over and over again and again and again until driver has memorized the procedure by memorizing the body movements (muscle memory). The other way is to memorize the steps before attempting the three-point turn.
(8). I, Joda Collins, will use your vehicle, but not my vehicle, for training a driver to learn the three-point turn by muscle memory.
(9). Here is the procedure the student-driver must first memorize before I will allow a driver to use the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle for the three-point turn training.
Slow, right, look, signal, stop.
Look, go slow and turn fast, stop, reverse.
Look, go slow and turn fast, stop, drive.
Look, go slow and turn fast, coast, accelerate.
(10). Here is the procedure if using any vehicle other than the Joda Collins Driving Academy vehicle for the three-point turn training.
Slow, right, look, signal, stop.
Turn, look, coast, stop, reverse.
Turn, look, coast, stop, drive.
Turn, look, coast, accelerate.
(11). For those that find memorization too difficult, I provide a free tutoring service. I have the student-driver call at a specified day and time. My secretary will work with the student-driver on the phone for 45-minutes to one-hour. During that time, my secretary will say each word one at a time and the student will repeat each word one at a time. So far, every person that has availed himself/herself to this FREE service was able to memorize the steps within one-hour.
SECTION 6. LESSON TWO AND FOLLOWING
IF YOU ARE NOT SCHEDULED FOR MORE THAN ONE LESSON AND HAVE NO NEED OR INTENTION TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE LESSON, SKIP THIS SECTION AND GO TO SECTION 6.
A. Never has a student benefited from driving between lessons without my okay to do so. And, never has a person trained one of my students between lessons without my approval without that effort costing the student skill ability in one or more areas and added more time and expense to the training effort.
B. After Lesson Verbal Report. Most Clients do not want an after-lesson verbal report because they are anticipating an after lesson written report. The verbal report is just a short version of the written report. However, if you want a one-minute verbal report, just meet me at my vehicle when I return from the lesson or be on your way to my vehicle when you see me return and in the process of saying goodbye to the student and changing sides, so I can see you coming. I do not, however, go to a vehicle or home door to provide a report.
SECTION 7: SCHEDULING
A. Only the Client (financially responsible person) can cancel, schedule or reschedule appointments.
B. The Client is the person that is paying for the training in whole or in part. By law, the Client must sign a PDF copy or a paper copy of the Contract. I do not have PDF. If the Client (financially responsible person) will not be at the first meeting at the start of training to sign the paper copy of the Contract let me know so we can make other arrangements for signing.
C. I do not schedule training unless the driver verifies or states he/she has a valid license or permit, and the agreed-on payment is received. It is the driver's responsibility to have his/her license or permit with him/her at the time of the training
D. I (Joda Collins) do not initiate rescheduling because of adverse weather conditions that are short of the severity that requires a State or National Weather Advisory. A scary forecast of wind and rain (storm) is NOT a National Weather Advisory.
(1). However, if you (the Client and/or the Student-driver) are fearful due to adverse weather conditions, I do allow cancellation and rescheduling with no financial ramifications (penalties or fees) if I receive, at least, a two-hour notice
SECTION 8: PROPER STEERING
A. Usually, I teach proper hand-over-hand steering including allowing the wheel to slide through the driver's hands rather than manually steer out of turns, safe and graceful braking and safe and graceful acceleration first. Safety first!
CONTRACT FIVE
Student-driver Contract Dec 2, 2021
THIS CONTRACT IS FOR the Student-driver primarily, however, every person involved is asked to read and approve this.
1. STEERING
A. The #1 behavioral cause of crashing is when a student-driver does not follow the directions of the instructor. The #1 physical cause of crashing during driver training is poor/slow steering. Poor/slow steering is shuffle steering, X (cross arm steering), short hand-over-hand and a few more (less used) steering methods.
B. Because poor steering is the #1 cause of crashing during driver training, until a driver can do proper hand-over-hand steering and allow the wheel to slide through his or her hands to complete standard right and left turns, I reserve the right to keep the driver in a parking lot and/or out of fast-moving traffic no matter how long it takes a driver to do proper steering and allow the wheel to slide through his or her hands to complete standard right or left turns. My estimates of future progress do not include the time it takes a driver to learn proper hand-over-hand steering and allowing the wheel to slide through his/her hands to complete standard right and left turns. If a driver wants to learn hand-over-hand steering on his or her own time for free see Attachment Two, Section Four at the bottom of this page.
C. If a driver cannot, will not or does not use proper hand-over-hand steering and/or cannot, will not or does not allow the wheel to slide through his or her hands to complete standard right and left turns, I will allow a driver to use any form of steering he or she wants if we are using any other insured vehicle besides mine. To the best of my ability, I will keep driver out of any situation that requires normal steering speed to avoid crashing. However, I cannot guarantee that such a condition will not arise in the normal driving experience.
2. BRAKING A. Stopping without jolting the vehicle or throwing the head of passenger's forward.
B. The ability to use minimal brake pressure to drive no faster than 2mph for 30-consecutive seconds.
C. Under normal conditions, I teach super slow acceleration for many good reasons I will share upon request.
(a). If, after training with me, a driver wants to increase his or her acceleration rate, that is his or her decision or the decision of the vehicle owner. Faster acceleration than I teach, as long as the acceleration rate is within reason, is not in and of itself bad or unsafe driving.
3. DURING TRAINING PLEASE DO NOT DO THE FOLLOWING.
A. Do not reach into the back seat from the front seat. The back of the seat is not built for full body weight.
B. Please do not take it personally when I correct your driving. It is not personal. It is professional.
C. Do not use your cell phone when you are in the driver's seat unless the vehicle is stationary and not in a traffic lane.
D. Do not bring foods, snacks or drinks of any kind into my car for consumption during training (except water in a container with a screw on cap). Please do not chew gum or use candy. If you want know why, go to:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/joda-collins/selective-soft-sound-syndrome/paperback/product-18785296.html .
(a). If you want to stop for any of these things, just ask. The time it takes you to buy them and consume them, within reason, will be added to your driving time, thus no loss in training time to you.
E. Do not make up personal rules of the road that violate the legal rules of the road and drive in traffic by those secret rules.
F. I try to be easy to get along with. Be decent and respectful towards me. I will be decent and respectful towards you.
G. Please do not provide justification, rationalization or argument regarding why you drive poorly or in violation of traffic laws. Confronting or attacking me about your dislike of traffic laws just eats up time, creates a strained environment and does nothing good for either of us.
H. Do not accelerate in a manner that throws my head back or stop in a manner that throws my head forward.
J. If I tell you that you did not do something correctly, do not respond with, "YES I DID!" If I make a mistake that does not put us in danger and is minor, let it pass gracefully. I will do the same for you as long as there is no immediate need for you to be aware of the matter. We cannot do everything at once.
K. During training, please try to not answer yes or no questions with long answers. For example, if I ask you if you see the red light, please try not answer by telling me what a red light means, just say, "Yes," or say, "No." This gives me maximum time for maximum safety if the answer is, "No."
L. Do not slap at or otherwise abuse my vehicle controls. Do not slam my car doors. Treat my vehicle gently. It is expensive. Thank you. Do not mistreat my equipment and I will not toss your cell phone around inside the car.
M. If I am standing at your door when you get into the vehicle, please do not close the door. Allow me to close the door. When I am sure you are not a door slammer, I will feel better having you close my car doors.
N. Wear tight fitting shoes such as tennis shoes or dress shows and not crocks, sandals, boots, slippers, or flip flop
P. Be clean and wear clean clothing.
Q. Do not wear anything that will snag seats.
R. Have your permit or license with you.
CONTRACTS ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Copyright © 2016. Joda Collins. All rights reserved.