Councils across England and Wales will be given new powers to charge drivers for traffic offences at the start of next month.
But many experts warned that this will lead to many drivers being handed "wrongly issued" fines which will have to be appealed.
The Department for Transport (DfT) could begin accepting applications from councils to issue charges for moving traffic offences.
Successful applicants will be able to issue penalty charge notices (PCNs) for these offences from June 1.
This will include infractions like yellow box misuse, making illegal turns or driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
It could help promote cycling and walking to make roads safer for all who use them.
Yellow boxes are used to ensure traffic flows smoothly with councils looking to fine anyone who prevents this from happening.
The RAC claimed many motorists will be unfairly punished unless the government improves its design and guidelines for authorities.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy for the RAC, said: "In the absence of definitive guidance on the design, maintenance and enforcement of box junctions there will be a high degree of confusion among drivers and local authorities.
"[It] could lead to an avalanche of penalty charge notices being wrongly issued and then having to be appealed.
"This will inevitably lead to an unnecessarily high number of appeals for local authorities to review, as well as some poor outcomes for drivers.
"We are worried that failing to update guidance to include the lessons learnt from more than 15 years of enforcement in London will lead to countless wrong fines being issued, no end of unnecessary stress for drivers who feel they have been unfairly treated and thousands of wasted council hours investigating appeals."
On Transport for London's red routes, drivers can be slapped with fines of £160 which is reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.
Sam Wright, a chartered engineer who was formerly responsible for the design of yellow boxes on the TfL network, said: "The key design principle is that yellow boxes should be no bigger than is necessary to prevent vehicles obstructing through movements.
"Drivers may also be surprised to hear that there is no legal requirement for authorities to meet this design criteria and it's simply down to the competence of the enforcing authority."
A DfT spokeswoman said: "These new powers are designed to improve cycle safety, air quality and support of bus services.
"It's for local authorities to enforce them and ensure they meet local needs."
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