Hacker News Reader

Comment by roflc0ptic | Hacker News Reader

Check the Foreign Corrupt Practices act

That lists “officer, director, employee, or agent” which makes it clear the aim is in terms of business not say a student on vacation bribing their way out of a traffic ticket.

“It shall be unlawful for any issuer which has a class of securities registered pursuant to section 78l of this title or which is required to file reports under section 78o(d) of this title, or for any officer, director, employee, or agent of such issuer or any stockholder thereof acting on behalf of such issuer, to make use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment of any money, or offer, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to--“ https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/criminal-fraud/l...

That said, I am not a lawyer so I could be missing something.

Per my understanding it isn’t strictly illegal to bribe people in foreign countries, just that it’s _often_ illegal, under circumstances I’m pretty vague about - no clue about your example. Also NAL

Pretty much.

If a student bribes their way out a speeding ticket in a foreign country, the laws of that county apply. The US government mostly doesn't care.

> stop! before you act, check the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

this catchy little bit of wisdom has saved me from a lot of trouble

Reply on news.ycombinator.com