I believe the mexican-spanish word or term is or was, 'morditta' ......
means 'the bite.'

traditionally police got paid very litttle, and that's how the system
worked.
these days might be a whole other story ..but you get the idea.
Enough $ in the right place will fix everything is the impression I get.

funny story -
friend of mine driving  in mexico in a mercedes diesel car, late 90's.
he was driving through a town and saw a truck tire rolling down a hill from
a side street , coming right at him.
he gunned it, trying to avoid getting hit by the tire.
It smacked his car firmly on the last foot of the left side.
He just kept on agoin' .......
and didn't slow down unitl he was miles away ...
because .............in Mexico, in any accident, it's always the Gringo's
fault.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Loren Busch" <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:41 AM
Subject: Re: HIJACKED - update

> On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 10:30 AM, Rob <becida@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>   Do any of you folks with the experience down south think this is a
>> place
>> where someone is waiting for a cash gift to fix all this?
>>
>
> 'Cash Gift' my ..... Call a Bribe a Bribe.