Motorbikes are supposed to ride in the left lane. The shoulder is not a lane and is usually delineated with a solid (no cross) line except at junction where the line is broken.
I think a bribe is given before the fact to guarantee a result. Tea money on the other hand is a gift.
The OP should leave such things to his wife. What is the point of being married to a local if they can't sort out local issues.
They said they needed money for petrol but arrived in a electric BMW.????
I offered some money for Coca-Cola. It was declined.
As for the OP give your wife 1000 let her sort it out.