Open container violation in Los Angeles (on the sidewalk, not in a car) LAMC 41.27 (h)

I received a violation, with the code 41.27 (h), of the LAMC (open container in public.) The officer circled it as a misdemeanor, and my court date was set for December 2, 2009. However, the date of violation was incorrectly recorded as November 30 2009, when instead it should have been October 30, 2009. This is my first time ever ticketed for anything, and my question is this: what punishment can I reasonably expect, and if it is going to be anything more than an infraction, would you advise that I obtain some type of counsel. I am graduating from college soon, and I'm worried about this!