Contract 4

My Business Philosophy is the Golden Rule

Welcome to

JODA COLLINS

DRIVING ACADEMY LLC

Behind-the-Wheel Training

Serving Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties since 2008!

850 981-3355

What your needs? How we can serve you?

Daytime Phone:

The economy has erased my FREE offers. I (Joda Collins) cannot figure out how to remove the word FREE from the heading and replace it with Contract Four. When I figure it out, I will do that. Thank you for your patience.

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CONTRACT FOUR
BASICS April 5, 2025 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.
(2). Under no conditions will a missed appointment or appointments incur any liability in excess of the liability specified in print in my legal documents.
(3). Its' eazy two make uh misstake inn an 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.
(b). 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
(c). 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.
(a). 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.
(5). 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. I (Joda Collins) reserve the right to make adjustments. For example, I once had a driver change lanes from the slow lane to the passing lane without my any notice, signal, or my direction to do so. In a 55mph zone, she was traveling 20mph under the posted speed limit and 30mph under the flow of traffic. She was not safe in lane changes. A pack of vehicle was fast approaching behind us in both lanes. I checked for safety, told her to signal right, and asked her to change lanes to the right. She did not, so I put some light pressure on the steering wheel to gracefully and safely change lanes from the passing lane back to the right lane in time to avoid traffic difficulties. She got mad and told me that I changed lanes without her approval! I told her I did that she was breaking the law, about to cause some serious traffic problems and I did not have enough time to ask her twice to change lanes and incur any more delays to get out of the way of fast-moving traffic behind us in the passing lane. She remained mad.
(a). Being the owner or driver of a vehicle that does not belong to me, does not authorize the driver to put my life in danger while I do nothing to protect my life and life of the student-driver. (6). 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.
(7). 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. This Contract is long. Please pay extra attention to CAPITAL LETTERS, bold print, and underlined print. IF YOU PREFER A PAPER COPY OF ANY LEGAL DOUCUMENT MAILED TO YOU, just ask for it (them) and provide your complete mailing address.

"Accept business only at a price of being thorough." Arthur C. Nielsen Sr., (1897-1980.) American master businessman. "Nielsen Ratings."

Why a Detailed Written Contract is Necessary - The Contiguglia Law Firm. https://contiguglia.com/blog/7-reasons-why-a-written-contract-is-necessary/

"...say...what you need to say....To avoid clarity is to create confusion." Attorney Jefferson Fisher. See, Jefferson Fisher - Wikipedia.

"Being unclear...is to be unkind." Professional Financial Advisor, Dave Ramsey. See, Dave Ramsey - Wikipedia.

Any suggestion how to shorten my contracts or make them more interesting without deleting important and/or Federal or State mandated content, will be greatly appreciated.

B. Every time I have a recuring problem that would have been avoided if I had the solution in print, I add the solution to my Legal Documents (Contracts). Every time there is a pattern of confusion on the part of my Clients and/or Student-drivers, I address that confusion in print. Every time there is a recuring problem that costs me more money to solve than I was earning, I correct the problem with adding words to my Contracts. Every time I think of a benefit, I can add to make my Client's and/or Student-driver's experience better, I add that benefit to my Contract. However, with every benefit, I have to protect myself from unscrupulous people who love to take advantage of the kindness of others, so exceptions and exclusions are needed; those take a lot of words since bad people look for the smallest lack of extreme clarity to take advantage of others. According to the American Medical Association about 75% of people prison are like that, and about 5% of people in the general population (not yet in prison) are like that. Being extremely clear for hateful, opportunistic people requires a lot of words for those one out of 20 people.

C. I ONLY DO BUSINESS WITH THE CLIENT (financially responsible person) on matters that deal with Legal Documents (Contracts), scheduling or fees. (1). While there may be more than one financially responsible person, such as a father and mother, I only communicate with one Client unless there is an additional one-time fee (charge) to help cover my added admin expense.
(2). Do not provide me or allow anyone else to provide me with any email address that you, the Client, does not want the possibility of my email or emails sent to that email address. It is the Client's responsibility to be sure I am not provided with any such email address or addresses. (a). I (Joda Collins) do not and will not assume the responsibility of the liability of providing some emails to some email addresses only.
D. LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND CONCEPTS
(1). Contracts are not novels. Read the Legal Documents slowly, carefully, completely, intelligently, inquisitively, and as if a failure to understand will cause all parties unnecessary stress and/or unnecessary added expense, because it will. Be wise. Often, someone will say something like this. I will just use the comment I heard yesterday. "I have a Master's Degree and I still had a hard time understanding your Contracts!" In this instance and every other instance where something like this was said, the reason the person struggled to understand the Contracts were either they tried to read them fast such as skimming the content or the person lacked the education or IQ to understand the Contacts. Bottom line, if you have any questions ask, via email, before you agree to the Contact(s) and I will take all time and energy necessary to clarify, via email, until all your questions are answered to your satisfaction.

(a). We are embarking on a serious venture. You are putting your life and limb, or the life and limb of your loved one in my hands and I am doing the same thing riding in the passenger's side during training. The cost, also, in dollars and cents is, considerable in three ways.

(1). The money you will save if the training helps the driver avoid crashing.

(2). The money it will cost you if needed training is not provided and crashing is the result.

(3). The money you are paying for this training.

(b). I have a simple one-page contract with the person that cuts my grass and a 29-pages of legal documents relative to the purchase and financing of my home. The more that is at risk, the more likely the Contract will be longer. My Legal Documents are sixteen pages. Considering life and limb are at risk, and much of the content are my client's and student's benefits, I am not sure that is excessively long. Unlike my house purchase, those asking me to sign did so without expecting me to read the documents, thus leaving me at their mercy. I do not do that to others. I ask others to read the Legal Documents. Those asking me to sign the house purchase legal documents, clearly did not have the patience or knowledge to answer my questions. I have both.
(2). Write down all the questions you have before and as you read the Document(s) rather than skim it and say, "I think I got most of it!" As you read cross off all things answered. After your careful read, ask me by email, everything on that remains on list. It is tedious but it is only a once in a lifetime task. It takes the same amount of time as going to dinner and a movie. It is not as much fun. The effort is worth it because ignorance is expensive. I am putting my life in the hands of the student-driver, and the student-driver is putting his/her life in my hands. We are engaging in a serious effort that warrants careful and serious pre-consideration, even though time-consuming.
(3). After my best attempts to explain the content of my legal documents and the client's best attempts to understand my legal documents, if the client cannot understand my legal documents, I will not be able to provide service.
(4). I do not have and will not honor any verbal agreements. I do not attempt to hold anyone hostage to anything that follows, "But you said....!" I refuse to be held hostage to anything that follows, "But you said...!" If it is not on my website Agreement page or not part of a paper copy of a signed Contract, it was never said, said poorly and therefore null and void or said perfectly and misunderstood.
(5). I do not do business on the basis of assumption. I will not hold you responsible for something I assumed you would do or should have done. If the responsibility is not in print and agreed to by you, you are not obligated by my assumptions. Likewise, I will not be held responsible for anything you assumed I should have done or not done if the responsibility is not in print and agreed to by me. Anything in an email that is different from my online Legal Documents found on my Agreement Page, right column, is considered an email mistake, and said email content (mistake) is null and void.
(6). Please sign the Legal Documents with a readable signature. Readable signatures tend to hold more legal weight than scribbled lines or unreadable print, plus I have been advised by legal counsel that scribbled signatures often betray a casual/flippant attitude towards the signer's contractual obligations. And that, psychologically, when the signature is or is required to be readable, the signer is more likely to hold themselves accountable to the content, due to the more seriously and carefully written signature. Given the fact that unread, poorly understood and/or insincere commitments to obligations are the number one cause of difficulties, a readable signature is a great asset. So far, 100% of those that got upset with me because I asked them to resign with a readable signature, also, later, got upset with me because I held them responsible for something in the Contract they signed. Interesting!
(7). 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. To begin training when there is disagreement between the primaries about the training goal or goals makes it impossible for me to aim for the training target because I do not know what or where the target is. It is nearly impossible to teach a person beyond what they are willing/motivated to learn.
(8). I reserve the right to add or subtract to my online Legal Documents without notice as long as the additions or deletions do not alter the fundamental facts, figures or intent of the legal documents. (9). The Registration is null and void, if the Client does not make a payment within 45-days of Registration.

(10). The Registration and the Contract is null and void and all funds paid and denoted on the Contract as non-refundable are forfeited, if the Student-driver does not complete a lesson within 60-days of making a requested payment or does not complete a lesson within 90-days of the most recent completed lesson.

(11). I will not enter into a Contact, nor accept any fees, related to any student-driver that does not have a driver license or permit.

(12). In the United States, of those age 16 and older (2022 statistics). Specifics vary slightly depending on who is quoted.

(a). 9% are illiterate (cannot read or write) at a first-grade level.

(b). 10% are functionally literate (cannot read at a second-grade level or can read at a second-grade level but cannot comprehend writing at a second-grade level.

(c). 59% read and comprehend at a third to fifth grade level. They can read but not well enough to comprehend the average newspaper article.

(d). 10% read at a seventh grade level.

(e). 6% read at an eighth grade level.

(f). 6% read at a ninth grade or higher level.

(1). The average legal document in the United States is written at a 9th grade level, including mine. That means that only 6% of Americans can read and understand the average legal document. It is nearly impossible to write a legal document that covers many factors at a third grade reading comprehension level. Even if it was, still only about half of those living in America could understand it well. This is a tremendous obstacle for any business, including mine. Add to that is the reality that about half of those that can understand longer legal documents do not have the motivation to read them. Added to that, those who do not read written words well, usually, do comprehend well the spoken word. For example, I said to a man, "Most students progress up to twice as fast, therefore, at half the expense if they do the optional homework." When the training was over, he asked me when he would get half of his money back? For these reasons I offer the following benefits.

(a). I will take as long as needed (within reason, that is - not months or years) to answer any questions asked of me via email at no charge, if they are asked after an honest attempt to understand the legal documents and are asked before signing them.

(b). I will prepare simple Contract upon request. Of necessity, that Contract will be limited in Client and Student-driver benefits. That is the only way to make it shorter.

E. TELEPHONE
(1). I seldom answer my telephone but let calls go to voice mail for the reasons found at this site: https://www.fosterswift.com/communications-Written-Business-Agreements.html. Leaving a voice mail is reaching me by phone. I will respond, usually, within two business hours.
(2). If you do not receive a response from me by 10am the next day, please forgive my oversight and contact me again.
(3). 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. Avoid the drama that ignorance always creates. Make a list of all questions you have and ask before agreeing to anything. Asking for clarification of contractual matters AFTER agreeing to them may incur an additional charge. In the adult world, ignorance of available information, is not a valid excuse for not knowing nor a valid excuse for failure. Responses to legal questions are in writing and are a testimony to the high integrity of the company/agency/business. Being positive to handling legal matters in writing is a testimony to the high integrity of the inquirer. (a). I do all the administrative work except for a bookkeeper that works one hour per week keeping tax paperwork up to date. I simply do not have time, during my training day, to answer the phone and engage in conversations that begin with anything like, "I read the Contract, but could you tell me about your services and fees." I am not inclined to hire a secretary and raise my charge 35% to cover that salary. For every hour of driver-training there is about 2.5 hours of administrative work. I cannot keep up if I answer the phone calls. Phone calls take twice as long to provide and clarify the information compared to using email, and then I have to back up the legal, scheduling and financial info on the phone call with an email since I do not have nor honor any facts or figures stated in any verbal conversation. Normally, I respond to phone calls and emails the first thing in the morning or between 7pm and 8pm. After my initial email to you, I ask you to only inquire about contractual matters, including but not limited to scheduling and fees by inquiring by email or voice mail. Please do not email or call and ask me to call you back so we can, "Talk about things." State your concern or question in your email or voice mail. I will respond by email if I have your email address or by US Postal System if I have you mailing address. Thank you for that consideration. I have no other options if I am going to keep my sanity and my business. My mailing address is 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. This is NOT my business address. Thank you for not coming to this address.
(4). I have an administrative office; however, I do all business by phone, voice mail, email or US Postal System.

F. CONSIDERATION
Please give me the benefit of the doubt if I say something and do not use the perfect words. It is amazingly difficult to be a driver trainer. I am constantly applying 35 safe driving skills in an ever-changing environment while I am watching and teaching my student. This requires a lot of thought and concentration, and a lot of words. "When there are many words, transgression (wrong choice of words)...are unavoidable...." Proverbs 10:19, Amplified Version. Parenthesis mine, Joda Collins.

SECTION 3. CONTRACT(S) / LEGAL DOCUMENTS
A. IDENTIFICATION
(1). First person (I, me) is Joda Collins, CEO of the Joda Collins Driving Academy, LLC unless different and obvious by the context. Second person (you) is the Client or the Student-driver.
(2). Unless otherwise arranged, the Client (financially responsible person) has to be in attendance at the start of the (first) lesson to sign the Contract and, if paying with a card, to produce the card for ownership verification unless other arrangements are made.
(a). By law, I cannot do business with anyone except the contractually stated and agree-on financially responsible person. The financially responsible person (client) is the individual that signs the money order or check (if check is accepted), the name listed as the payer/remitter on the cashier's check or the name of the person found on the Visa Card or MasterCard. Please do not tell me you are the financially responsible person, and then have your debt paid by someone else even if that someone else is your best friend, husband, wife, child, boss, or anyone one else. If you would not be able to prove to the IRS or a court of law that you, personally, paid for my services or if I cannot legally refund money or a money-based document (check, money order) to you, then you are not the client
(3). Third Party with Vested Interest.
"The concept of, 'interested parties,' in legal terms is essential for determining who has the right to be involved in a legal proceeding. This designation ensures that those with legitimate stakes can present their perspectives and protect their interests...." Source: Legal Clarity Team, Published Jan 21, 2025. www.legalclarity.org
(a). The third party with vested interest (interested party) is not a client and not a student-driver but a person with whom the Client (financially responsible person) agrees that ALL information from me is to be given to said individual because that person will be or is directly impacted in a significant and legal manner by the arrangement between me and the Client.

B. CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENT
(1). The most difficult part of my job is not the driver training but trying to work with drivers and clients that do not understand the Legal Documents well enough to know their obligations. It is estimated that, in our culture today, up to 80% of those that sign a Contract never read it, never read it well enough to understand it or cannot read well enough to understand it. Dangerous! Please show me the courtesy to know your contractual obligations. Make a list written list of your obligations that you do not like so you can review them carefully before you sign and, by your signature, agree to them. Ask until your questions are answered and your signature on the Contract that you understand the Contract is the truth. "Honesty is the best policy." Sir Edward Sandys, 1599, one of the founders of Jamestown, Virginia in 1606.
(2). Those under age 18-years of age cannot be, legally, held accountable for anything they sign; however, for their needed understanding, I require anyone under the age of 18 to agree to and sign one or more of the documents found at http://www.jodacollins.com/agreement.html .
(3). Contracts exist not for memorization, but for information so a person can determine if he or she wants to engage in business with the agency/person, and for mutual protection if confusion arises that can be resolved by reference to the Agreement (Contract). No one is expected to memorize the content of long legal documents; however, you should know what will cost you money. Responses vary from those that read my Contracts. Some thank me for being thorough and clear. Others are not thankful. One person wrote me and called me an, "obnoxious blowhard." Those that think poorly of the way I operate my business do not do business with me and we avoid further conflict. That is a positive result for everyone! Those who value openness, honesty and my willingness to clarify every important detail for mutual benefit, do business with me. That is what I want. I have always had an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. I have never purposely defrauded anyone, nor I have never been accused of doing so. I love being free. "The truth shall set you free." John 8:32.
(4). I do expect reasonable comprehension of the major points of the legal documents. Sometimes I am told, "I read the Legal Documents, but I am not a good reader, therefore, because I cannot understand words and/or I cannot remember anything I read, I am not responsible or accountable for anything I sign." "Ignorance is not an excuse," is a saying has been around for about 2,500 years. Leviticus 5:17 states, "If a person...does...(wrong)...even though he does not know it, he is guilty and will be held responsible." (Parenthesis mine, Joda Collins). If a contract could be declared null and void on the basis that I say, "I am ignorant," then every contract would be worthless. I could take your money and provide no service because I claim I am ignorant. Anyone could rip me off on the basis that he/she claimed he/she is an ignorant person.
(5). 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. That is adult behavior for adults and respectful behavior for minors.
(6). I will honor my word (Contract) with you, and I expect the same consideration from you. If you have questions, just ask before agreeing. I will cheerfully clarify and any all such inquiries, free of charge (before you agree to them). After agreeing to the Legal Documents, inquiries that require me to explain or clarify anything in the Legal Documents incurs a token charge.
(7). I, the Client and, I, the Student-driver, will not hold nor attempt to hold Joda Collins responsible or accountable for any ramifications, financial or otherwise, that arise because we (Client and/or Student-driver) did not read, remember or understand the content of any agreed-on legal document.
(8). Read, ask, understand, and then approve is the honorable, respectful, and mature business procedure. It is the formula for a good working relationship. It is the respected procedure for adults. I invite and welcome the Client to ask as many questions as he or she wants to at no additional charge BEFORE agreeing to the Contract(s).
(9). Do not read and understand before agreeing to contractual benefits and obligations is the best formula for future difficulties between us.
(10). If you think anything in the legal documents is unfair or unreasonable, let me know, in writing, BEFORE YOU AGREE TO IT and how you want the challenged section to read. I will consider your recommended rewrite. The only thing I will not consider is changing my charges; I cannot charge less and stay in business.
(11). I reserve the right to create and propose a Contract that is different from my on-line/website Contract.
(12). 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.
(13). I (Joda Collins) reserve the right to require a
signed and notarized paper Contract and full payment in my possession before scheduling any service.
(14). 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.
(15). 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). Forty-five days from the most recent payment.
(c). Ninety-days from the most recent completed lesson.
(16). 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.
(17). I (Joda Collins) reserve the right to ask the client, the parent or spose 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.
(18). WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE USING CONTRACT SEVEN AND ELEVEN, AND THE OCCASIONAL INSTANCE WHEN I JUST DO NOT KNOW, AFTER THE FIRST LESSON I PROVIDE AND ESTIMATE OF, OR STATEMENT ABOUT 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. Scroll to the bottom of this column, Attachment Two, Section Nine for the reasons why.
(19). 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 not my official business address, however.
(20). 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.
(21). 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 gracefully fit into my mid-sized vehicle or steer with reasonable safety, I will teach said driver in any insured vehicle other than mine.
(22). I teach slow acceleration and braking early, unless the driving environment calls for quicker starts or quicker stops. I teach slow acceleration and early braking for great reasons I will clarify during training. When a student is driving without me in the vehicle, faster acceleration and later braking that is within the skill level of the driver, below the level of reckless driving, express reasonable comfort and consideration for passengers, and in accordance with traffic conditions are not discouraged. (23). I can and do guarantee training. I cannot and will not guarantee learning.
(24). Please do not ask me to serve you in any manner that is not consistent with my Legal Documents.

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. 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. If I did not feel like my service saves limbs and lives, I would not do this.
E. I do not accept prepayment for unscheduled lessons.
F. I do allow scheduling for unpaid lessons as far as 60-days in advance from the date of the first lesson and 60-days in advance from the date of any lesson after lesson one is completed. The scheduling fee applies to lesson one and, also, a separate scheduling fee charge to lesson two even if lesson two is scheduled at the same time as lesson one.
G. 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. Personal or business checks from out of Santa Rosa, Escambia or Okaloosa Counties are subject to restrictions I address on a case-by-case basis.  Unless otherwise arranged, the first training session has to be paid for in full, and in my possession in advance of scheduling. Said fees can be paid by Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card, money order or cashier's check. If paid by money order or cashier's check please mail it to Joda Collins Driving Academy, 4033 Buttonbush Dr., Milton, FL 32583. This a mailing address only and not a business address. Please do not come to this address personally. H. Unless noted otherwise in an email, lessons two and following do not have to be paid for in advance of scheduling and can be paid for at the time of service.
J. While I have never lost or had anything lost in the mail in my entire life, including the 17.5-years in this business, there might be a first time, so keep your proof of purchase for your money order or cashier's check. I will not provide free service on the basis that someone said they mailed the money order or cashier's check but lost the receipt, therefore, they claim I must provide my service to them for free.
K. I do 99.99% of my business from my home office prior to start of a lesson. I do 99.99% of my business by email, phone, voice mail or US Postal Service. However, if anyone wants to make arrangements to meet with me personally, I will do that for a fee of $38.00. I am a one-man operation, with the exception of a tax bookkeeper who works 1.5 hour per week. I am always out of time. Scheduling my time costs me. Time is life. Time is money. I sell my life and time, just like you, to make a living. Thank you for valuing my life and time. I do a lot of things for free in my Church and as a favor to my friends, but I seldom work for free in my job.
L. Non-refundable fees are for services already rendered. Normal/reasonable people do not expect money back for a meal already eaten, a tank of gas already used, or a service already rendered.
M. Barter. If you have or friend of yours has a skill or service of any kind that you make available to the public, I am willing to discuss a barter for your services for my services.
N. This website had a lot of words and numbers. Any word, combination of words or number or combination of numbers on this web site are null and void (wrong, and non-authoritative) if they are in different from the words or numbers in my Contracts. I do not always remember where words and numbers are in other pages of this website, that should have been changed when contractual words and numbers change.
P. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION OR GRADUATION FEE (Certificate is Optional)............$9
Q. Rebates and Refunds are treated as distinct financial matters, rather than combined with fees leading to reduced charges for service. This helps keep tax records easier to calculate where specific designation for income and expense is mandated. It also avoids confusion for clients when charges and refund/rebates are distinct transactions.
R. 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 $50 unless the lesson is cut short by the amount of time equal to the late arrival. That decision belongs to the Client. 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 SAME FEE IS PAID BY ME TO THE CLIENT, IF I AM LATE BEYOND 10-MINUTES, BECAUSE YOUR TIME IS A 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 charge of $50 for late arrival is not charged. If I (Joda Collins) arrive beyond the scheduled ending time for the lesson, there is no charge to reschedule the lesson, including any door-to-door fee and the rescheduled lesson is free, as is the door-to-door service for that lesson, however, there is no additional $50 fee
(4). No-show and no-call. If a driver misses a lesson and the client does not call or email at least two-hours in advance to cancel, the client is charged full price for the lesson or $128, whichever is lower, plus the door-to-door fees, if any. If I (Joda Collins) miss an appointment, there is no charge for the appointment missed, and the next appointment incurs a $128 discount. And, no fee door-to-door service if the missed lesson was scheduled with door-to-door service.

R. VARIANCE IN CHARGES Because of slightly different ways of calculating charges (dropping cents or rounding figures to the nearest dollar), the per lesson charge can vary as much one to two dollars per lesson. Recalculations will not be made to add or subtract that one or two dollars per lesson.

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). Because of rack/pinon (front end vehicle) damage, excessive wear on the tires, and, eventually, complete power steering failure caused by repetitive dry steering (steering with vehicle stationary or quick steering with vehicle barely moving), I will teach the three-point turn ONLY one time in my vehicle and 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. To date, 100% of all drivers who have memorized the steps have only required one training effort to do a perfect three-point turn, if driver knows where the front and back of the vehicle is in space. So far, zero percent of all drivers who have not memorized the steps have not been able to do safe and legal three-point turn. I will not assume responsibility for a student-driver that does not memorize the steps for a three-point turn and therefore, does not know how to do a three-point turn.

(3). Under most circumstances, unless the driver is mandated by the State to take training to keep or regain his/her license, I do not initiate, promote, nor suggest three-point turn training. The Client must tell me if and when he or she wants the three-point turn training taught. It is 100% the responsibility of the Client to let me know if and when three-point turn training will occur.
(4). I suggest learning the three-point turn training as soon as the student can pass the Basic Vehicle Control Course. This will avoid coming to the end of training without completing the three-point turn training. I assume zero responsibility if training ends, and the driver has not received adequate three-point turn training.
(5). 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.
(6). 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
(7). 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
(8). Many drivers adamantly proclaim, "I already know how to do a three-point turn!" What they usually mean is they have been able to turn the vehicle around without crashing so far. However, the State requires doing a three-point turn using all of the safety procedures needed to be able to do the three-point turn without crashing under any all circumstances including the three-point turn. Ninety-nine percent of drivers who have been able to turn their vehicle around without crashing cannot do a State-required legal and acceptable three-point turn. Driving without crashing is not the same thing as driving legally or safely. Most drivers that fail their State exam do not crash during the exam
(a). If any other person besides Joda Collins teaches the three-point turn to the Student, then Joda Collins must teach that person how to teach the three-point turn in a manner that will be stringent State requirements. This is not a negotiable requirement even if the other person is able to do a three-point turn without crashing, because the State requires higher standards, to pass the State driving exam, beyond being lucky enough to not crash during the exam
(9). 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.
(10). I, Joda Collins, do not use my vehicle for training a driver to learn the three-point turn by muscle memory for the following reasons:
(a). The average driver requires 25 to 50 practice attempts to learn the three-point turn, in the manner that passes the State driving exam, by muscle memory. Doing the three-point turn requires turning the steering wheel with the vehicle stationary or barely moving. This is called "dry steering." After about 15 to 20 students, I have to take a half-day off, take my vehicle to the mechanic and have my front end realigned. Also, I only get about 24,000 miles of tire life, rather than the 40,000 my tires are designed to provide.
(b). My mechanic warned me that if I continue to use my vehicle for excessive dry steering, I can expect $2,500 to $3,500 every couple of years in power steering repairs and possible, very dangerous, power steering failure during the operation of my vehicle. Anything that, unnecessarily, reduces the safety of my student is forbidden/non-negotiable.
(11). The second method is Cognitive Learning when the student memorizes the steps and, once memorizes, does the three-point turn one time. So far, after 17-plus years in this business, 100% of all drivers that have memorized the steps, have been able to do the three-point turn perfectly the first attempt (assuming the driver has passed the basic vehicle control course thus can use accelerator, steering wheel and brake accurately and knows where his/her vehicle is in space).
(12). In my experience, somehow, and I do not know why, it seems that most people do not have the ability or determination to memorize things on their own. Out of the more than 3,000 students I have taught, only four have memorized the steps for the three-point turn by the start of the first lesson while most have been adamite at the start of lesson one that they have memorized the steps. This reality baffles me, but it is reality (at least in my world) none-the-less.
(13). Here is the procedure if using 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.
(14). 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.
(15). 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.
END OF THREE POINT TURN TRAINING SECTION

C. WHAT I WILL NOT DO
(1). I will not train out of skill capability sequence. For example:
(a). I will not attempt to extensively train a person to drive on the Interstate if he or she cannot drive safely in a parking lot.
(b). I will not extensively train a driver to drive safely in congested traffic if that driver cannot drive safely in mild traffic. (c). I will not attempt to provide concentrated training from point A to point B if doing so has any driving conditions between that are excessively beyond the driver's current reasonably safe skill level. Safety first!

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. If a student-driver is presented to me with all of the bad driving habits (habits of commission) of the previous teacher or teachers engrained. It takes a long for me to help the driver break those bad habits.
B. The driver is presented to me with none of the good driving the previous trainer or trainers do not do (bad habits of omission). It takes a lot of extra time, work and training fees to create those good habits once a driver has the habit of driving without them.
C. The driver is presented to me with all of the bad habits of commission and omission that are particular to him or her, that the trainer or trainers were not able to identify or correct. Again, additional training needed and unnecessary costs incurred.
D. I am not averse to doing the extra work if the client is not averse to paying the additional fee.
E. Driving and/or Training Between Lessons
(1). In 1575, the English historian John Hooker wrote, The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew. In that, he wrote, "Too many cooks spoil the broth." At that time, Hooker considered the statement a long-standing proverb. This proverb has endured for centuries because is rings true to all people in all generations. The more people involved in a single task, wherein the participants are deemed equal in truth, authority, skill, application or assumption, the worse the results. The Chinese symbol for chaos, disruption and failure is two adult females in the same kitchen.
(2). Do you agree that 100% is as large a number as possible, and never is a very, very long time?

(a). So far, in my 17-years of this business, one hundred percent of the time when a driver drives between lessons when I do not ask or invite them to, and one hundred percent of the time when someone trains one of my students, when I do not ask or invite them to it always (100% of the time) adds more lessons and expense to the training of the student.
(b). 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.
(c). There is a hidden/indirect added expense when a student drives between lessons. It requires more paid training time to correct the mistakes taught by others or the mistakes of a driver not corrected by others, thus said driving errors becoming more of a habit. Established bad driving habits take a long time to correct, and they are quick to establish since driving is doing the same thing over and over and over and over in a short period of time. If you want to know more about this subliminal expense, scroll (a long way) down the bottom of this page, to Attachment Two, Section Two
(d). With that clarified, drivers that have to or want to drive between lessons without my encouragement to do so, do so to the detriment to the student-driver. My conscience is clear.
F. 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
E. I am not a car rental agency. I do not rent my car out to anyone for their personal use, anytime for any reason, including to take the State Driving Exam.
SECTION 8: PROPER STEERING
A. All learning is systematic. Crawl, walk then run. The Alphabet is taught in order, A, B, C, D, E.... Math is taught in sequence, adding, subtraction, fractions, multiplication, division, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, then calculus. Sport is taught from the most basic skill to the most difficult; bounce the basketball while standing still is taught before teaching to run and bounce the ball.
(1). Learning to drive safely in traffic is no different. The first Course is Basic Vehicle Skills, then General Safety Skills that keep the driver from causing crashes, then Defensive Driving Techniques which keep the driver from becoming involved in the crashes that crash prone drivers cause.
(2). The Basic Vehicle Skills are proper steering, proper braking and proper acceleration. Proper steering includes proper hand-over-hand steering and letting the wheel slide through the driver's hands to complete standard turns. This is the most difficult skill for a driver to learn if he or she has driven a vehicle before coming to me because 95% of all drivers I have taught that have driven before coming to me for training have been taught or allowed to teach themselves poor steering habits. Once diver has made two or three dozen turns, the steering habit is etched in stone. If it is a good steering habit, that is wonderful. If it is a bad steering habit, that is terrible. Poor steering means that in a situation where proper steering would easily avoid a crash, the person with poor steering crashes. Most driving school crashes are due to poor steering. For safety, that is why I address steering concerns first.

(a). Proper braking and proper acceleration are relatively easy to teach or correct.
(3). The reality is that many licensed drivers have poor steering and many of them drive crash free. That may be because they have never yet had a driving condition where proper (quick) steering was needed to avoid a crash or they may have developed the skill by sheer years of repetition to steer poorly but quickly. Regarding my training, my business, ethics, conscience, vehicle, my life, the life of my student, and others lives we might harm or end, I do not assume that we will never have a driving condition where proper steering is needed to avoid crashing. Plus, no new driver has the years of experience and repetitious steering action that will permit that driver to steer poorly and quickly at the same time
(4). However, IF A CLIENT AND DRIVER WANT THE DRIVER TO SKIP LEARNING PROPER STEERING, I WILL CONSIDER TRAINING THAT STUDENT IN ANY VEHICLE OTHER THAN MINE. I will severely limit the number of turns the driver takes, try to keep the driver in as mild of traffic conditions as I can in order to decrease our chances of crashing due to poor steering.

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