[nabusman]

IME the bribes are often not asked directly but instead the people in the office throw up insurmountable obstacles so that you initiate the conversation of bribes. I don't know why they do this, maybe because it puts them in a better negotiating position?

[bombcar]

Soliciting a bribe is probably illegal.

But accepting a gift to do your actual job, how could that be illegal, hmmmm?

[bluGill]

If you go first you are offering a bribe. If the police are investigating offering a bribe is entrapment and your lawyer will run with that in court.

In short it is a way to avoid getting caught.