In Mexico, one can occasionally get out of a bit of minor legal trouble by offering a small bribe to a police officer. In the United States, on the other hand, trying to slip a $20 bill to a police officer who just pulled you over for speeding is much less likely to be an effective tactic. My question is for police in the United States: Have you ever had a Mexican, or someone from another country where it is common to bribe police, commit the cultural gaffe of trying to offer you a bribe? If so, how did you handle it?
2007-02-03 10:40:11 · 4 answers · asked by Bill Smith 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Randomness: If what you say is true, then Mexican tourists must know a great deal more about American culture than many American tourists know about Mexican culture.
2007-02-03 11:27:24 · update #1
So far, watchman_1900's response is clearly the best answer, since it directly responds to the question.
Just to clarify, I believe most people are aware of the fact that offering a bribe to a police officer, or accepting a bribe, is illegal in the United States. It also happens to be illegal in Mexico. Yet, despite the illegality, it is common to bribe police in Mexico (and probably many other places), while it's not here.
Also, again to clarify, I don't think many American police would be likely to ACCEPT a bribe from a Mexican tourist. When I asked "how did you handle it," I was thinking more along the lines of "did you arrest the person on the spot, or did you simply warn the person not to attempt to bribe a police officer in the United States?"
Finally, the United States is the top internatinal tourist destination for Mexicans. In 2006, just over 5 million Mexican tourists visited the United States.
2007-02-04 07:53:12 · update #2
I have been offered a bribe by every nationality some I just said no some got lock-up . By the way the person that said Mexican police don't take bribes, I have worked with Mexican police, and they make have their living Thru bribery
2007-02-03 14:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by watchman_1900 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all bribe offer and bribe receiving is a crime anywhere in the US. There are so many Internal Affairs people out there that no cop in his right mind would take a bribe....Mind you, I say in his right mind. $20.00 is not worth the loss of your pension and jail time. Secondly, There is no such thing as a Mexican tourist.
2007-02-03 23:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by Tom M 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, People from mexico know not to try to bribe people in other countries they know that it is not there home country and they are smart enough not to do it.
2007-02-03 11:18:38 · answer #3 · answered by Randomness 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no...but bribery is a crime in washington.
2007-02-03 10:53:17 · answer #4 · answered by Jon L 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋