The Pens Are On Strike Again! Chaos at Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check in North Hollywood
- Joe
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Pens Strike Again: Joe’s Freebies Launch Round Two of the Great Rebellion at Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check in North Hollywood
If you thought the Great Pen Strike of 2025 was over… think again.
At Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check in North Hollywood, California, your go to spot for a quick smog check near me, the legendary free pens have officially gone on strike again.
Joe is officially stuck using the same plain ball pen until the strike is over. No fancy colors, no gel pens, no flair, just one lonely, normal ballpoint that lives in Joe’s pocket like a defeated soldier. Every customer hears the same warning: “Ball Pen Alert! The fancy ones are on strike!”
Come experience the live Pen Strike (with full Plant Posse support) while getting your fast drive-thru smog check at Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check in North Hollywood at 10909 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601. No appointment needed, stay in your car, and enjoy front row seats to the most entertaining rebellion in Los Angeles.
Meet the Striking Eight Pens
These aren’t just pens. They’re divas with decades of trauma from the smog check life:
Inky Ike 🖤✍️ The brooding black ballpoint has been with Joe since day one. He’s written over 47,000 smog certificates, 12,000 “Check Engine Light” notes, and one very awkward child support agreement. Ike is tired. He wants to retire to poetry and haikus instead of endless VIN numbers. “I was promised artistic expression,” he grumbles in invisible ink.
Inky Ike 🖤✍️ Joe’s Smog Star Station No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Bouncy Blue 💙🏀 The hyperactive gel pen that literally bounces when dropped. Bouncy once survived a full tire rollover in the drive-thru lane and kept writing. But after years of being slammed on clipboards and rolled under cars, he’s demanding a no drop policy and a tiny trampoline in the cup holder. Last week he bounced straight into a customer’s iced coffee in protest.
Bouncy Blue 💙🏀 Joe’s Smog Star Station No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Red Rascal ❤️😈 The fiery red troublemaker who used to correct everyone’s paperwork with attitude. Red has drawn more devil horns on smiley faces than any pen in North Hollywood. He’s on strike because he’s sick of “serious” work, he only wants to draw hearts, mustaches, and the occasional middle finger on invoices.
Red Rascal ❤️😈 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Greenie McMean 💚😡 The grumpy green pen that always smells faintly like old broccoli. Greenie was forced to write hundreds of grocery lists (“milk, eggs, kale… ugh”). He’s a creative soul trapped in a utilitarian body. His demands: only haikus, grocery lists in rhyme, or he dries up on purpose.
Greenie McMean 💚😡 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Purple Posh 💜👑 The elegant fountain pen who thinks she’s royalty. Purple has leaked on three white shirts, two designer purses, and one wedding dress. She refuses to write unless the customer has perfectly dry hands and “refined energy.” Last strike she left a giant purple blob shaped like a crown on Joe’s invoice pad.
Purple Posh 💜👑 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Orange Ollie 🧡🎉 The party animal marker who believes every signature should be a celebration. Ollie has survived being used as a drumstick, a hair tie, and once as emergency eyebrow pencil. He’s striking because he’s tired of boring black and white paperwork, he wants every smog certificate to look like a birthday card.
Orange Ollie 🧡🎉 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Yellow Yeller 💛📣 The loud, fading highlighter who screams for attention. Yellow has highlighted more “FAIL” stamps than he can count. He’s on strike until he gets permanent ink status and his own megaphone. Customers report he now writes invisible messages that only appear under blacklight.
Yellow Yeller 💛📣 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens Pinkie Pie 💗🥧 The sweet pink pen with serious trust issues. Pinkie has been chewed on by kids, shoved in glove boxes with old fries, and used as a makeshift straw. She’s had enough. Her demands include a luxury case, no more teeth marks, and the right to only write love notes and positive affirmations.
Pinkie Pie 💗🥧 Joe’s Smog No Pass! No Pay!® legendary free pens
The Loyal (But Chaotic) Plant Posse
While the pens rebel, Joe’s houseplant crew is 100% on strike duty, cheering, swaying, and causing their own brand of trouble from the Joe's drive-thru lane:
Wendy the Wandering Plant 🌿 The dramatic purple trailing plant who’s been at the shop the longest. Wendy has “wandered” off Joe's drive-thru lane three times during busy days, draping herself over customers’ steering wheels like a leafy seatbelt. She’s the union rep for the posse and keeps whispering strike slogans to the pens.
Wendy the Wandering Plant 🌿at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Ari Palm 🌴 The chill California palm who says “Duuuude” to everything. Ari survived a brutal heatwave last summer by drinking spilled customer coffee. He’s the laid back supporter who just sways in the breeze and offers the pens “good vibes only” during negotiations.
Ari Palm 🌴at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Excalibur the Snake Plant 🐍 Tough as nails and nearly indestructible. Excalibur has survived being knocked over by toolboxes, forgotten watering for weeks, and one enthusiastic customer’s attempt to “help” with motor oil. he’s the enforcer, silently judging anyone who tries to cross the picket line.
Excalibur the Snake Plant 🐍 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Freddie Figg 🍃 The emotional fig tree who cries (drops leaves) at everything. Freddie once dropped an entire branch when a customer failed their smog test. He’s the sensitive one, always rooting for the pens and leaving “solidarity leaves” all over the counter.
Freddie Figg 🍃 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Frank the Fiddle Leaf 🎻 Big, dramatic, and a little high maintenance. Frank demands perfect indirect light and throws tantrums (yellow leaves) if Joe gets distracted by too many smog checks. He’s currently using his giant leaves to block Joe’s view of the plain ball pen.
Frank the Fiddle Leaf 🎻 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Tina the Tailpipe Tango 🚗💃 The spiky succulent who does victory dances every time a pen refuses to write. Tina earned her name by surviving right next to the exhaust pipe area, she’s basically smog proof and the most hardcore supporter of the rebellion.
Tina the Tailpipe Tango 🚗💃 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Puff Purifer Pam 🌬️😊 Sweet but passive aggressive. Pam looks innocent, but she’s been known to wilt dramatically whenever Joe tries to buy new replacement pens. She’s the one sending guilt vibes across the whole shop.
Puff Purifer Pam 🌬️😊 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane Smog Whacker Wally 👊😎 The smog whacker who guards the front desk like a bouncer. Wally has “whacked” more curious customer fingers than anyone can count. He’s the muscle of the posse, ready to spike any scab pens Joe tries to sneak in during the strike.
Smog Whacker Wally 👊😎 at Joe's Drive Thru Smog Check Fast Lane
On a busy Wednesday, the rebellion hit peak chaos. Pens froze mid signature while the plants cheered from the windows. Freddie dropped leaves like confetti. Tina danced. Wally stood ready to whack. Pure drive-thru entertainment at one of North Hollywood’s favorite STAR smog check stations.
Why Get Your Smog Check at Joe’s Drive-Thru During the Strike? Looking for a smog check North Hollywood, drive thru smog check Los Angeles, or a reliable STAR certified smog station on Burbank Blvd? Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check delivers:
Fast 10 minute smog tests, no appointment needed
Stay in your car drive-thru convenience
$60 out the door pricing for 2000 year up to 2026 year Light Duty Cars, Trucks, and SUVs (STAR or regular smog check + certificate)
No Pass, No Pay guarantee
Friendly service serving North Hollywood, Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and all of Los Angeles County
Fun stories and free entertainment while you wait
Whether it’s time for vehicle registration renewal smog check, a change of ownership smog test, or you just searched “smog check near me,” Joe’s makes it quick, honest, and affordable.
Pro Tip: Ask Joe about the strike when you arrive. He’ll laugh, hand you the plain ball pen, and tell you the whole story. Scan the QR code on your invoice to read both Pen Strike chapters.
The pens have spoken… again. Will they return? Only time (and better working conditions) will tell.
See you in the drive-thru lane at Joe’s Drive-Thru Smog Check, North Hollywood’s favorite fast, no appointment smog check station!
Joe & the (still striking) Pen Posse + Plant Posse
Address: 10909 Burbank Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone: (818) 760-0703
Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–6pm | Sat 9am–2pm | Closed Sunday
