This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I've hear foreigners say "oh it's just $20". The average annual salary is a few hundred dollars in some places in Central Africa. It's like handing somebody several weeks salary to save yourself a few minutes. It destabalizes the local economy and creates dependance for the few on a source of money that is directly opposed to economic growth for the whole. Yea, maybe you get that guy a few drinks, meanwhile the community as a whole slowly dies of cleptocracy. And even if you don't care about the locals, you spread the image of the foreigner as stupid and incredibly rich. As a foreign traveller this is inconvenient for me because it wastes my time. But if I were a foreign investor this is more than an inconvenience, it's a deal breaker.

Three years, Africa north-to-south. central America, South America, Eastern Europe. Lord, in DR Congo I was stopped for bribe money ten times per day. Never, ever paid a bribe. I don't do the "don't understand" thing. Leaves too much hope, takes too much time. I start strong, explaining that I have never and will never give them money, then quickly go friendly and get to know them and let them know myself. What villages I've been through, some words of local language, the food, the music, etc... This has always worked for me. But really I think confidence is more important than anything. The police can read people very well, they can see it in my eyes that it's a waste of time. Plus, I normally look ragged and inexplicable. I have had my motorcycle impounded once, I have had a document or two held overnight, but this is extremely rare.

If I truly did something wrong I refuse to pay in the street, I will happily pay a printed fine, at the police station, with witnesses, with receipt. I very rarely break the law but when I do it's too much work for them to go through the official channel, so I end up not paying anything anyway.