In my last car (04 MINI Cooper S) I was ticketed twice for no front plate. $125 ticket, NOT dismissable by proving I added the plate after the fact in Carrollton (suburb of Dallas). Most other areas will dismiss it, though.
Bubble, the 3rd party tow hook front plate mount made for the MINI (our local MINI dealerships sell them
) will fit the 1er. There's a thread on here somewhere with pics...