DENVER -- A Denver district judge is granting a temporary injunction barring provisions of a new driver's license law that required people to show two forms of identification in order to get a license.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless had argued that the requirement was nearly impossible for some people to follow.

Under the department's rules, someone with a U.S. passport must present another document such as a certified marriage certificate to obtain a driver's license or a state ID card. Driver's licenses or ID cards issued by other states don't count as a second form of ID when used with a passport.

The new rule was intended to stop illegal immigrants from getting licenses or state identification cards.

Calling the Department of Motor Vehicle's rule absurd, attorneys told the judge the two document rule made it almost impossible for Colorado's homeless population to comply with the requirements.

Judge Larry Naves ruled for the plaintiffs just before noon and issued a temporary injunction.

The DMV said the decision would open the state up to widespread document fraud and abuse. It hasn't decided whether to appeal.

Supporters of the courtroom decision said it will help homeless people get back on their feet.

"They finally get a chance to get on with their lives by getting an ID, getting a job, getting into housing, and getting a second chance," said Deb Deboutez of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

But the Department of Revenue said that with ID theft on the rise, it should be tougher, not easier, to get a license.

One witness told Naves about a man with multiple licenses in Colorado and Florida.

"When we count them all up, there are 13 different names that he is using," said Joan Vecchi of the Colorado Department of Revenue.

This week's raid of the Swift meat packing plants showed just how widespread ID theft is. Critics said relaxing licensing requirements will only make it worse.

"It's about protecting Coloradans from identity theft," said M Michael Cooke, executive director of the Department of Revenue. "It may be an inconvenience for some, but it's not as inconvenient as having your identity stolen."

It is still possible for the DMV to deny a license to people with inadequate documentation, but now applicants must be given a written explanation.

Additional Resource:

The group filing the lawsuit has set an I.D. hot line to handle the calls coming in from Coloradans across the state who say they, too, have been wrongly denied I.D. The I.D. hot line number is 720-917-3839.