Turnpike Account Sheet dated 1803 - Americana - Likely Pennsylvania

Turnpike account sheet of tolls! Extremely Early! A toll road, often referred to as a turnpike or tollway, is a type of public or private roadway—most commonly a freeway—where a fee, known as a toll, is charged for passage. This system of road pricing is typically implemented to help recover the costs of constructing and maintaining the road. Toll roads have been in existence in various forms since ancient times, with fees imposed on travelers moving on foot, by wagon, or on horseback. This practice has continued with the advent of automobiles, and many modern tollways exclusively charge fees for motor vehicles. The amount of the toll often varies based on factors such as vehicle type, weight, or number of axles, with freight trucks frequently incurring higher rates than passenger cars.

Tolls are usually collected at designated locations such as toll plazas, toll booths, toll houses, toll stations, toll bars, toll barriers, or toll gates. In some cases, toll collection points operate automatically, allowing users to deposit money into a machine that opens the gate once the correct toll has been paid. To reduce costs and minimize delays, many tolls are now collected using electronic toll collection systems. These systems automatically communicate with a toll payer's transponder or utilize automatic number plate recognition to charge drivers by deducting the toll from their accounts.