hda - general policies & procedures

Students may attend class before a T.I.P. card is issued with the understanding that if the OMV denies them a T.I.P. card for any reason, the Hinton Driving Academy will not issue a refund.

Upon completing the classroom portion and the 8-hour Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) training with Hinton Driving Academy, you'll be eligible to apply for your Learner's Permit (LP). To upgrade from an LP to a Driver's License (DL), a crucial step is successfully passing the Road Skills Test (RST). Hinton Driving Academy offers the RST for a fee of $40, assessing your practical driving skills. It's an essential component on your path to obtaining your official driver's license. Please note this additional step and fee in the process of becoming a licensed driver. We're here to support you throughout this journey!

Upon receipt of the returned check, the issuer will be notified and informed they have ten days to make restitution, including a $35.00 NFS fee, to prevent any further collection activity. Returned checks, along with the state’s maximum allowable returned check fee, may be electronically presented to your bank. A hold will be placed on the individual or his or her child’s certificate. Payment for a returned check must be received in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order. A personal check will not be accepted as repayment for a returned check. Returned checks that are not paid may be filed with the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office.

• Students may pay for each portion (classroom and BTW) separately if they chose to, however no student will be allowed to book BTW time until all fees have been paid. 

Payment for the classroom portion of the course will be nonrefundable. 

A full refund (minus the classroom portion) will be granted if a student/parent cancels enrollment within 7 days of the planned course start date. After this time no refunds shall be offered. 

If a student does not cancel within the allotted 7-day period or does not attend the first day of class a refund will not be offered, but the student will be allowed to reschedule to a different class (within 180 days of their original planned course start date) upon approval of the school and only if there are vacancies. 

If Hinton Driving Academy is unable to complete a student’s course, then a parent or adult student may request a refund for the uncompleted portion of the course. 

· A full refund will only be issued if a student has been instructed or trained by an unlicensed driving instructor. 

· If a parent/student decides to have the driving portion completed at a different driving school due to the wait time being longer than expected but not exceeding our deadline given by the State of Louisiana then we can furnish the paperwork to do so. However, the parent/student will not be given a credit or refund.

· This refund should be made available within 10 days of the request. 

If a reasonable refund request is not granted, the student and/or parent may apply against the school’s surety bond.

· Any student trained by an unlicensed instructor shall be entitled to a refund of tuition and fees.

· In the event of a school closure, either by voluntary measures or by the action of DPS, a refund will be issued upon request.

· All refunds will be processed within 30 days after the effective date of termination or request, whichever occurs first.

MINOR Students MUST have parents’ permission to leave campus during scheduled breaks. If you would like to give your child permission to leave campus during lunch, you may indicate by checking the box on the Enrollment Form.

 We would like to emphasize that, while we grant permission for minor students to leave campus during lunch, the responsibility for their safety and punctual return to class rests entirely with them. The school shall not be held liable for any incidents or delays that may occur during this period.

For those students remaining on campus during break:

· We have a microwave and a refrigerator that students will have access to. 

· Parents or a family member may bring a lunch to the student during lunchtime if desired. 

· Food Delivery Services may be used.

Adult students will be allowed to leave the premises during lunchtime, but are expected to be back by the start of class. 

 Any students arriving more than 15 minutes after the start of class will not be allowed into the class and will have to schedule a make-up day. This is for both the respect and safety of our students and staff. 

All doors are to remained locked during class time conducted after business hours and staff members are not permitted to allow people into the building after the start of class. 

At Hinton Driving Academy, we prioritize safety, efficiency, and the best learning experience for our students. For all classroom lessons, parents are to drop minor students off in front of the Hinton Driving Academy entrance and are not to leave until they see their child enter the premises. 

Hinton Driving Academy is only responsible for students once they enter our premises!

To ensure a smooth and structured process for our behind-the-wheel (BTW) driving lessons, we have established the following pick-up and drop-off policy:

1. Starting Point: All BTW driving lessons will commence at our school campus, without exception. Students are expected to      arrive at the school on time for their scheduled lessons.
2. No Student Pick-Up: Our BTW instructors will not  provide pick-up services for students. It is the responsibility of the      student to arrive at the school for their scheduled lesson.
3. Drop-Off Considerations: In certain cases, when      students reside within the city limits of Ruston or along the route within      reason, and with prior arrangements and permission, our BTW instructors      may consider dropping off students at their homes. However, this option is      subject to the following conditions:
   • The       drop-off arrangement should not significantly impact the student's total       driving time.
   • It       should not cause the instructor to be late for their next appointment.
   • The       final decision regarding drop-offs will be at the discretion of the BTW       instructor.
   • If       the instructor deems it inconvenient or impractical to provide a drop-off       service, their decision is final.

1. Parent/Guardian Consent: For minor students, any      drop-off at a location other than the school campus must have prior      consent from the student's parent or legal guardian. We prioritize the      safety and security of our students.
2. Instructor's Discretion: Please understand that it is      not our primary responsibility to provide pick-up or drop-off services.      The decision to offer a drop-off service will be based on the instructor's      judgment and logistical feasibility.

We appreciate your understanding of our pick-up and drop-off policy, which is designed to ensure the effectiveness and safety of our behind-the-wheel training. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact us.

Students are to be picked up promptly at time of class dismissal. Our instructors have schedules that they must maintain and any instructor that is left responsible for your child beyond our scheduled class hours must be compensated for their time. 

The Hinton Driving Academy has instituted the following late pick-up policy: 

· Any student who is picked up more than 15-29 minutes after the scheduled class end time will be charged $20.00. 

· Any student who is picked up 30-59 minutes after the scheduled class end time will be charged $40.00.

· Any student who is picked up more than 60 minutes after the scheduled class end time will be charged $50.00.

 **Late pick-up fees are based per class day. Certificates will be held until all fees are paid.

A passing score of 80% for the classroom portion (knowledge test) and a score of 70% must be achieved behind the wheel assessment to successfully complete the course and certificate to be issued. (A driving rubric will be used for the BTW portion.) 

If the student does not successfully pass the knowledge exam, they can re-take once more within the same day, or may reschedule for a following day. 

1. After 2 failed attempts the student will be required to re-attend the classroom portion of the class. 

2. Student’s may request additional retests at a fee of $20 upon approval of the Hinton Driving Academy. 

Re-tests after 2 failed attempts are not guaranteed and are solely based upon the discretion of the Hinton Driving Academy.

The Hinton Driving Academy will make every reasonable effort to accommodate students with learning or physical disabilities. If we feel we are unequipped to properly prepare a student, we will recommend another school.

Minor students will be provided with a printed copy of the LA Driving Manuel to keep, and adult students will be given a digital copy. If students lose their textbook or would like to purchase an additional copy, they can do so from the Hinton Driving Academy or download a copy for free from our website.

In class we want to be comfortable, but in good taste. Jeans, shorts, capris, etc. are fine for class. If an instructor or staff member feels that a student's attire is inappropriate, they may be asked to return after they have changed. During the behind the wheel (BTW) portion, backless shoes such as slides and flip flops will not be allowed.

Please have phones on silent during class. Students will be permitted to use their phones during their allotted breaks. Students warned repeatedly about phone use during class will be dismissed and required to schedule a make-up day. 

All phones and books MUST be put away during tests! 

All books, papers, purses, and phones must be put away during tests. If a student is caught cheating during an examination, the test will be discontinued and students will receive a “zero” on that attempt. If caught cheating a second-time expulsion from the program is warranted, the student may not be permitted to re-take the course.

 All students will sign a Student Agreement pertaining to classroom rules, behavior and expectations. 

Students are expected to arrive on time and maintain a courteous and respectful attitude. No student should engage in any form of behavior that interferes with the academic or educational process, compromises the personal safety or well-being of another, or disrupts the administration of Hinton Driving Academy’s programs or services. 

Students who become disruptive will be offered a warning on their first offense, but if the disruption continues to occur, depending on the student’s age, his or her parents will be contacted and the student may be dismissed from the class at the discretion of the instructor. Any student who is dismissed from a class on two separate occasions will be dismissed from the course entirely without any sort of refund.

• Students are allowed up to three warnings for minor violations of these rules. These warnings serve as an opportunity for students to correct their behavior.

• For offenses such as threatening or cursing other students or the instructor, immediate dismissal from the class may be warranted, as this behavior poses a serious disruption to the learning environment.

• Dismissal may also occur for repeated or severe violations of the classroom rules after warnings have been issued.

• The instructor reserves the right to make decisions regarding warnings and dismissal based on the nature and severity of the offense.

Appeals Process:

• Students have the right to appeal warnings or dismissals through the established appeals process. Information about the appeals process is available through the school’s website.

 If a certificate is misplaced or lost after being handed over by Hinton Driving Academy $50.00 cash replacement charge will be applied. 

If a sealed envelope containing the proof of passing the in-class written exam and/or the road skills driving test is misplaced or lost after being handed over by a Hinton Driving Academy instructor, there will be a $100.00 replacement charge for the written test and a $50.00 charge for the road skills test. 

Any test that was taken will have to be administered again.

As a parent or student enrolling and taking part of any of the services offered by Hinton Driving Academy, you hereby grant to Hinton Driving Academy the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission in respect of photographic portraits, or any pictures Hinton Driving Academy had taken of you or your child or in which you or he/she may be included with others, editorial or any other media such as film or video, to copyright the same; to re-use, publish and republish the same in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographs, and in conjunction with any printed matter, in any and all media now or hereafter known, including web pages and social networking media, and for any other purpose whatsoever, for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, and trade, or any other purpose whatsoever without restriction as to alteration; from time to time, or reproductions thereof in color, black and white or otherwise made through any media. 

Completion of any course at Hinton Driving Academy does not guarantee that a driver’s license will be issued to a student nor will this course count for any school or court credit. Students may qualify for a discount on auto insurance premiums; contact your agent for details.

All payments, prices, specifications, options, and information are subject to change without notice.

** Certificates will be held until ALL fees are paid. **

Students/Parents are encouraged to voice their concerns through our complaint portal.If an acceptable agreement cannot be made within 10-days’ time students/parents will be forwarded to the Department of Motor Vehicles, Training & Certification Unit.

Student complaints relative to actions of school officials shall be addressed to the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles, Training & Certification Unit, 225-925-1795, dhoover@dps.la.gov; only after the student has unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the matter with the school after having first filed a written and signed complaint with the school’s official.

There will be no additional charges for use of the school vehicle or transportation while taking the 8 hours BTW portion. 

All students scheduling for BTW training must be 15 years of age or older AND must have COMPLETED all classroom hours and successfully passed the knowledge test in order to drive with one of our instructors. 

For students applying for the 8-Hour BTW Time only, they will need a Certificate of Completion from another school for the classroom portion of the course.

All students must have their T.I.P. card in their possession in order to drive with one of our instructors. (Photos of the ID are not accepted; LA Wallet is acceptable)

If a student arrives or is picked up and does not have the Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) card on hand, the behind-the-wheel driving session will be canceled and the student/parent will be charged a $25.00 cancellation fee to cover the instructor’s cost. This fee will be required before the next scheduled session can begin.

 If the student does not successfully pass the Behind-the-Wheel (BTW) Assessment they can re-take once more within the same day, or may reschedule for a following day at no additional cost. 

1. After 2 failed attempts the student may be required to re-attend the classroom portion of the class. 

§ Student’s may request additional retests at a fee of $20 upon approval of the Hinton Driving Academy. Re-tests after 2 failed attempts are not guaranteed and are solely based upon the discretion of the Hinton Driving Academy.

We strive to work as fast as possible to avoid an extended waiting period to complete the behind-the-wheel sessions. Our goal is to have each student completed as soon as possible, but no longer than three (3) months for the adult students and no longer than four (4) months for the minor students after completing the classroom portion as permitted by the State of Louisiana.

Delayed waiting times may occur in the event of the following:

Our primary concern is the safety of our students during driving lessons. This policy outlines the conditions under which we may need to cancel or reschedule a driving session due to rainy weather.

Cancellation Criteria: We will consider the following factors when determining whether to cancel or reschedule a driving lesson due to rain:

Precipitation Intensity: We will monitor the intensity of rainfall. Light rain may not necessarily result in a cancellation, but heavy rain, especially if it affects visibility or road conditions, may lead to rescheduling.

Road Safety:We will assess the safety of road conditions. If heavy rain leads to flooding, reduced traction, or other hazardous conditions, we may cancel or postpone the lesson.

Visibility:Low visibility due to heavy rain, fog, or mist can be dangerous. If visibility is significantly impaired, we may consider rescheduling.

Notification:If we determine that a driving lesson needs to be canceled or rescheduled due to rainy weather, we will notify the student or their parent/guardian as soon as possible. We aim to provide at least [insert number of hours, e.g., 4 hours] notice before the scheduled lesson time.

Rescheduling:We will work with the student to find a suitable alternative date and time for the canceled lesson.

Students are encouraged to check the weather forecast on the day of their scheduled lesson and inform our office if they have concerns about weather conditions.

Behind-the-wheel sessions may experience delays during the summer and holiday seasons. These periods often bring increased demand, which can impact scheduling. However, each student is expected to complete the entire course within three (3) months for our adult students and four (4) months for our minor students from the last date of their enrolled classroom portion course. 

If a student misses or cancels a scheduled driving session without a (24-hour notice) a cash fee of $50.00 will be charged to cover the instructor’s cost. 

This fee will be required before the next scheduled session can begin. Certificates will be held until all fees are paid. No certificate will be awarded until the course requirements are met.