Bribery can take different forms, but Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 16-10-2 provides that bribery mainly involves offering, agreeing to give, or giving a public servant something of financial value in exchange for them exercising their power or influence in a specific way. Bribery also occurs if a public servant proposes, solicits, receives, or agrees to accept payment or other items of value in exchange for an exercise of their official discretion or similar action. Public servants may include elected or appointed government officials and government employees.
For instance, if a police officer pulls over a driver for speeding and the driver offers them $100 in exchange for the officers not issuing speeding tickets, they have committed bribery. Likewise, if the police officer accepts the bribe or solicits compensation from the driver, they commit bribery as a public servant. An attorney in the area could represent those charged with both giving and receiving bribes.