I couldn't find any terms of use on the beta site (not that I really looked all that hard).

Well, it took me all of 30 seconds to find it: http://local.google.com/help/terms_local.html. Quote:

By using Google Local, you agree to be bound by our Google Terms of Service, which are fully incorporated herein, as well as these additional terms and conditions that are specific to the Google Local service.

Then we look at the Google Terms of Service and quote:

You may not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system without express permission in advance from Google.